Bizman to Face Abetment Charges for Surrogate Mother’s Suicide

Hyderabad: Nine months after a 26-year-old woman died by suicide at Raidurgam before the surrogacy process could begin, police are finalising a chargesheet against the prime accused, Rajesh Babu, for abetment to suicide.

FSL reports have ruled out sexual assault, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which reviewed the case, has given the police a clean chit to proceed.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Raidurgam inspector Ch. Venkanna said, “We have CCTV footage showing that he confined her to a room and did not allow her to step out or meet her husband. As such confinement is prohibited by law, we will file a chargesheet against him, and the trial will begin soon.”

He added that the mediator who introduced the deceased, Ashritha Singh, to the accused will be presented as a key witness in court.

On November 27, Ashritha, a native of Odisha, died after falling from the ninth floor of an apartment in Raidurgam. She had come to Hyderabad with her husband to be a surrogate mother for businessman Rajesh Babu. A chunni tied to the window suggested she may have fallen while trying to escape confinement.

According to police, Rajesh, 54, wanted the surrogacy completed before the prohibited age of 55. With no eligible close relatives, he had obtained permission from the medical council and was days away from securing High Court approval when the incident occurred.

With forensic evidence ruling out sexual abuse and establishing unlawful confinement, police say the trial will begin soon after the chargesheet is filed.