Shiroor seer's death: Swamiji's close woman acquaintance arrested

The Venur cops in Dakshina Kannada district have detained Ramya Shetty, who is known to be a close associate of Shiroor Seer Lakshmivara Theertha, in connection with the death. She, along with four others, were arrested by the police in Aladangady in Belthangady taluk on Tuesday, July 24.

Kannada media have reported that Ramya Shetty sported a burqa to conceal her identity but unfortunately the car she was travelling in developed a flat tyre in Aladangady. There were moving around the car in a suspicious manner when based on the tip-offs given by the localities, the Venur cops took them into custody.

News reports that Ramya and her mother used to visit Shiroor Mutt every Monday, although her involvement in his death is yet to be seen.

TV reports have claimed that Ramya, who is said to be from Brahmavar in Udupi district, was one among the two women with whom the late Swamiji was in touch. The Udupi cops have already detained three youths in connection with the case on Monday, July 23.

The Udupi police have seized alcohol bottles, condoms and sanitary pads in Shirur Mutt, Udupi, reports News 9. Expensive alcohol bottles worth Rs 4-5 lakh were also found in the seer's room, along with several articles that have been recovered from the wells in Shiroor and Sri Krishna Mutts. 

Meanwhile, Shiroor Mutt's old manager has been appointed as the interim administrator by Sodhe Mutt seer to take care of the mutt's affairs.

Sri Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji died under mysterious circumstances on July 19 after he was admitted to the hospital over alleged food poisoning. His followers smelled foul play and demanded a probe into the death after poisonous content was reportedly found in his blood.