Hyderabad news: A 25-year-old woman from Odisha, who had traveled to Hyderabad for allegedly being a surrogate to a childless couple, died under mysterious circumstances after reportedly falling from a residential apartment in the early hours of November 26, police said on Wednesday.
The deceased, identified as Ashritha Singh, had been staying in the apartment of businessman Rajesh Babu, who had hired her for surrogacy. Ashritha’s husband, Sanjay Singh, has alleged that she was sexually harassed by Rajesh Babu, 54, which drove her to take her own life, as per a report on Times of India.
Based on the complaint, Raidurgam police have registered a case against Babu under relevant sections of the BNS, including abetment of suicide, and are investigating the matter.
According to police, the surrogacy procedure was scheduled to begin in December. Rajesh Babu resided in the flat with his wife and other family members.
On Tuesday night, Ashritha allegedly called her husband and informed him about the harassment she was facing from Babu, expressing her intention to end her life, as per a report on Telangana Today. Sanjay rushed to the apartment but arrived to find her body lying on the ground. She reportedly died on the spot.
Police reportedly discovered saris tied to the iron grill on the balcony of Ashritha's ninth-floor room, extending to the seventh floor. While it is suspected that she may have attempted to escape by climbing down, officials are also examining whether she accidentally fell or died by suicide, as per the report.
Reports suggest that Babu had offered a Rs 10 lakh deal for the surrogacy, with a small advance already paid to the couple. Sanjay claimed that Babu’s harassment led to his wife's tragic death.