Rahul Raj Singh: What do you expect me to do... stay in hospital or be out on the road like a mad man?

Rahul Raj Singh continues to make headlines, the latest being his drunk driving case last Sunday evening. As per reports, he was charged for driving under the influence of alcohol. While cops at Santa Cruz Police Station claim that he was booked for drunk-driving, the actor-turned-producer insists that he wasn’t at the wheel. In a quick chat with Bombay Times, Rahul talks about various controversies he has been embroiled in, following girlfriend Pratyusha Banerjee’s tragic death in April this year.
You were charged on Sunday for drunk driving?
I wasn’t driving. A friend of mine was behind the wheel as my driver was on leave. My friend will be present in the court to record his statement. I rarely drive ever since the incident (Pratyusha’s death) took place; the doctor has also advised me not to. Looks like every case that involves me even remotely is blown out of proportion.
Was the friend Saloni Sharma, whose name had come up during Pratyusha’s suicide?
Saloni was not with me. The identity of the friend driving the car will be revealed only to the court. Saloni is a business partner, something that both of us have said since the beginning.
Last week there were reports of an actress accusing you of molesting her and her producer friend at a restaurant?
Firstly, there was just one girl and not two. Secondly, every girl here is a self-proclaimed actress or model. If there are any charges of molestation, would I be roaming free? Isn’t that a serious allegation? I went for a birthday party with my sister (Sahila Chaddha), where a group of three men started misbehaving with her. I intervened and immediately left to sit in another section. While we were leaving, they started to abuse us and a girl came charging towards us. She hit Sahila di with her heels. I was nowhere even close to her to be accused of molesting her and this has been corroborated by the CCTV footage. We went to the police station and filed an FIR. The girl and her group filed a counter complaint.
What do you have to say about the duping cases filed against you by several girls?
These girls have claimed that I duped them six years ago. Where were they all this while? I have been in Mumbai since that time and everybody knows where I stay. These girls haven’t been able to furnish any proof to substantiate their claims. This could be a plan orchestrated to malign me by my detractors.
You have been mired in several controversies ever since your bail in the Pratyusha case?
I think I have become a soft target for these aspiring actresses.
Are you also trying to cash in on these controversies as they put you in the limelight?
No, I never went to the media first to clarify anything. I even avoid answering calls.
It’s just months since Pratyusha’s death; you seem to have moved on and have been spotted at parties, too.
I only go out with my friends, who are trying their best to pull me out of the trauma. What do you expect me to do? Stay in the hospital or be out on the road like a mad man? I had given my 100 per cent to my relationship with Pratyusha. The incident was shocking to me as well and I am still trying to figure out what could have triggered that. It’s wrong to say that I have moved on and am partying. If I am having a sip of beer, it
doesn’t mean that I have moved on. People resume work after losing a parent; they don’t stop living. But yes, that void can’t be filled.
Shouldn’t you be a little wary since all eyes are on you?
How much? I was labelled a murderer following Pratyusha’s death. But the Supreme Court granted me bail after taking stock of every evidence. I am careful, but shouldn’t I put up a fight if people misbehave with my sister? It’s unfortunate that whenever I have been out, it ends up in a controversy.