Actor Ashika Ranganath’s cousin commits suicide over sexual harassment by boyfriend

HASSAN/BENGALURU: Actor Ashika Ranganath’s 22‑year‑old cousin committed suicide after allegedly being sexually harassed by a drug‑addicted boyfriend at Panduranga Nagar in the city.

The victim, an engineering graduate originally from Hassan, committed suicide on November 22 at a relative’s house in Bengaluru. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Puttenahalli police station. Even after ten days, despite evidence, the accused has not been arrested, which has provoked outrage among the victim Achala’s parents.

Achala, who had just completed engineering and was preparing to join work, was friends with her distant relative Mayank. Mayank, who pretended to love her, pressured her into a physical relationship before marriage. Allegedly being a drug addict, Mayank repeatedly forced physical contact on her. When Achala refused, he physically assaulted her and also harassed her mentally. He also kept calling her repeatedly to harass her, it is said.

Achala is the daughter of actress Ashika Ranganath maternal uncle. Achala’s mother says her daughter took her own life because she was fed up of the constant harassment. A case has been registered at the Hassan city police station against Mayank and his mother Maina. Achala’s parents have demanded that those responsible for her death be arrested immediately.