HYDERABAD: The High Court on Thursday directed the State government not to discharge Pratyusha, the 19-year-old who was rescued from the clutches of her stepmother Shyamala and father Ramesh on July 8, from hospital until further orders.
The court issued the directive after the State police submitted a report on her physical and mental health and status of their probe into the inhuman torture of the girl by her stepmother and father. Pratyusha’s father, who had been absconding since July 8, was finally arrested at Bowenpally on Wednesday. He was produced before a local court in Ranga Reddy district which remanded him in judicial custody for two weeks. Ramesh, a joint telecom officer at BSNL’s Kothapet circle, was tight-lipped and didn’t reveal anything, sources told Express. The high court had taken cognizance of Pratyusha’s plight following a letter from Justice Kodanda Ram based on a report published in these columns and sought a report from the police.
In their report to a division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice SV Bhatt, the police said Pratyusha’s health was better. “But she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with signs of major depression and is under psychiatry treatment. She needs long-term follow up,” they said.
Citing doctors, the police further submitted that Pratyusha had almost recovered physically and may be discharged in two-three days. The girl’s maternal aunt, a teacher and her uncle besides the deputy collector were with her at the hospital, they said.
The bench appreciated the Aware Global hospital for taking care of Pratyusha’s medical expenses and directed the government counsel to visit the hospital and talk to the girl to know her views about her future life. While expressing concern about her future, the bench sought to know if her maternal uncle would be of any help and summoned him to court on Friday. The court was also informed of Pratyusha’s father’s arrest.
Later in the day, it is learnt that the government counsel paid a visit to Pratyusha following the court direction. She does not want to stay with her maternal uncle, sources said.
Pratyusha was brutally tortured by her father and stepmother for over seven months with an eye on her property - a flat that was registered in her name at Padmaraonagar in the city.