HYDERABAD: Dealing with a petition filed by G Siddharth Reddy, accused of abetting the suicide by upcoming actress Pratyusha in 2002, seeking reduction in the term of imprisonment imposed by the High Court, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking its response within four weeks.
Reddy, following a directive from the High Court, surrendered in the Nampally court here on January 11 and was lodged in the Chanchalguda prison.
He approached the apex court with a request to reduce the term of his imprisonment.
The High Court itself had, in its order on December 29, reduced the term of his imprisonment from five to two years and directed him to surrender in the metropolitan sessions court within 15 days.
It, however, enhanced the fine amount imposed by the sessions court from `5,000 to `50,000 and directed the lower court to pass on ` 40,000 of the fine amount to Pratyusha’s mother P Sarojini Devi.
The High Court also cancelled Siddharth’s bail and dismissed Sarojini’s plea for enhancement of the punishment given earlier to the accused.
The accused had been on bail till he surrendered in court.
The CBI had dropped murder charges against Siddharth and provided evidence that it was a suicide pact that resulted in Pratyusha’s death.