Bengaluru: In the suicide case of Shyam Prasad Shastri, a resident of Badekilla, Kedilla village, Puttur Town in September 2014, the CID list of the accused has added Puttur Havyaka President Bonanthaya Shivshankar Bhat, Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Ramachandrapura Matt Hosanagar and RSS (Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh) leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.
Shyam Prasad Shastri is known to be the younger brother of a Ramakatha female singer’s husband. The female singer is the one who has accused Raghaveshwara seer of sexual abuse.
The three accused are charged with provocation for suicide, threat to life and humiliation.
CID DySP R Vasu who had investigated the case has submitted the chargesheet to the Puttur Civil and JMFC Court.
On September 1, 2014, at around 1 in the noon, Shyam Prasad Shastri shot himself with a pistol. He had received a call when he was having his lunch following which he had shot himself in his chest. He succumbed to the injury at KMC Hospital in Mangaluru.
The family had alleged that he had taken such a decision since he was coerced to speak for the seer in the sexual abuse case. A letter had been recovered from the suicide spot. The case was then transferred from the Puttur City Police to the CID on the demand of the deceased family.
Threat to life over telephone
The sources have said, “Pertaining to the sexual abuse case of the Ramakatha female singer, the accused had exerted pressure on Shyam Prasad to go in favour of the Swamiji. Shyam Prasad was also threatened by Raghaveshwara Swamiji, Shivshankar Bhat, and Kalladka Bhat over the phone. He was called on his mobile and threatened. Shyam Prasad had recorded the conversations. The conversations were submitted as evidence to the court along with the accused list.”
According to the accused list and report, it is confirmed that the three accused had compelled Shyam Prasad Shastri to take such a hasty decision. Shyam Prasad was mentally disturbed by the threat calls, says the report.
