Padmapriya cremated in Udupi

Padmapriya, the wife of Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat, was cremated amidst heart rending scenes on Tuesday. The mother of two who allegedly committed suicide at New Delhi on Sunday was laid to rest at Udupi where a huge crowd had gathered for her funeral.

Earlier, Padmapriya's body was flown from Bangalore to Mangalore aiport. The body which landed in Bangalore on Monday night from New Delhi was accompanied by Bhat and Karwar MLA Suresh Kumar.

Bhat who seemed completely shaken up was seen consoling his two children. Even as the funeral was being held, various protests were held in Udupi as the body arrived. While the Congress sat in a dharna demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, women activists demanded that both Bhat and Atul Rao, the family friend who is accuised of taking Padmapriya to Delhi, be subject to a narco analysis test to ascertain the truth.

Meanwhile investigations into the incident continued with a team of the Bangalore police leaving for New Delhi. The Delhi police told the media that the responsibility of the probe was now with the Karnataka police. A police official from Karnataka before leaving for New Delhi told rediff.com that no arrests had been made as yet in the case. He also clarified that Atul Rao had not been arrested. Only further investigations will reveal the truth, the police officer added.

Padmapriya was found hanging at an apartment in New Delhi on Sunday. She had been missing from her residence in Udupi since Wednesday, but a complaint was lodged only last Friday. The autopsy report suggested that she had committed suicide by hanging and ruled out any foul play.