Mangalore: Padmapriya Death - No Progress in Investigation
The Hindu / DHNS
MANGALORE, Jun 22: Atul Rao, accused of abetting Padmapriya, wife of Udupi MLA K. Raghupati Bhat, to commit suicide, was on Friday discharged from a private hospital where he was admitted for treatment.
Rao was admitted to A.J. Hospital and Research Centre earlier in the day after he complained of mild discomfort in the chest and was kept in the intensive care unit for observation.
The medical director of the hospital, Prashanth Marla, said he had been informed that Rao had been admitted to the ICU after he complained of discomfort in the chest. “He was brought during the day and discharged later in the night,” Dr. Marla said.
On Thursday, Rao was brought to the office of the Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) and handed over to his family.
IGP (Western Range) Ashit Mohan Prasad said the police could not make much progress in the investigation on Friday due to Rao’s indisposition.
“The investigating officer, B.G. Achar (Police Inspector of Manipal police station) was not able to question Rao with regard to the complaint lodged by Mr. Bhat with the jurisdictional police on Thursday,” he said. “We will continue with the investigation of the case,” the IGP said.
In a related development, Additional Superintendent of Police S. N. Siddaramappa has officially asked the police officer in Delhi investigating Padmapriya Bhat’s death to provide him with a copy of the post-mortem report.
Prasad said since the Delhi police were conducting their own investigation, there could be a delay in handing over related documents. “We have officially asked for it,” he said.
Poojary demands CBI probe into Padmapriya case
Former Rajya Sabha member B Janardhana Poojary has demanded a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Padmapriya, the wife of Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said it is the responsibility of the government to clear the doubts of the general public who are in confusion that whether the incident is a suicide or murder.
Poojary alleged that Home Minister Dr V S Acharya has totally mishandled the case and indirectly taunted that he was not fit for the portfolio. “I don’t know why a doctor was made the Home Minister. He could have done something if he had been given the Medical Education portfolio,” he criticised.
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