Shiroor seer ‘death’: Experts leave ‘cause of death’ section blank in autopsy report

coastaldigest.com web desk
July 31, 2018

Udupi, Jul 31: Even though the Kasturba Hospital of Manipal submitted the post-mortem report on the death of Lakshmivara Teertha Swami of Shiroor Mutt to the Udupi district on Monday, the experts have kept the “cause of death” section blank, which will be filled up only after reports from the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL).

Sources in the Police Department said that the RFSL report would be available in four to six weeks.

Meanwhile, the police investigating the sensational death case are probing whether the seer was administered poison to save the image of Sri Krishna Mutt, a source privy to the developments said.

According to the source, police have added this as the fourth angle to the case. They have brushed aside all other possibilities for the time being, and are focusing on investigating if an external force administered the poison to the controversial seer.

The Shiroor seer had passed away on July 19 at the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal. The press statement issued by the Kasturba Hospital on the seer’s death, the same day had said that there was “suspicion of poisoning” and the toxicological samples had been sent for test.

Meanwhile, the ‘Aradhane’ ceremony of Lakshivara Tirtha Swami, which should have been held on July 31 (Tuesday) at the ‘vrindavana’ near the ‘moola mutt’ in Shiroor village, about 22 km from Udupi, had been postponed till the police completed their investigations there.

The police have been conducting investigations at the ‘moola mutt’ ever since the Shiroor seer passed away.

Laxman Nimbargi, Superintendent of Police, said that the police had requested the Sode Mutt for the possession of the ‘moola mutt’ for some more days as the investigations were still being done there. The Sode Mutt had agreed to the request, he said. The performance of the ‘Aradhane’ would have led to an invitation for over 1,000 devotees for meals at the ‘moola mutt,’ which would have caused problems for the investigations, hence a request was made to the Sode Mutt, the police said.

Comments

Kumar
 - 
Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018

I dont think, Normal FOOD poison can cause death. Somebody mixed something toxic substance

Suresh
 - 
Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018

I think no involvement from outside and somebody's hand from inside mutt only worked for his death

Ramprasad
 - 
Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018

I predict, finally death reason connects his asset issue and karnataka poll

Ibrahim
 - 
Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018

If any conspiracy worked out behind seer's demise, then question of security will arise. It proving that anybody can reach near seer and kill easily.

Danish
 - 
Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018

No hurry for the details. But it should be fair. #JusticeForSeer

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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