Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 14: It is almost certain that Shankaracharya (51), who was running Shreya Jewellers at Padubelle near Shirva since many years, had solely planned the decimation of his entire family comprising himself, his wife and two grownup, intelligent daughters. It appears that he had mixed poisonous substance, perhaps cyanide, to the food of his wife and daughters before consuming it himself directly. A plate of rice and sambar was found unused at his house and a sachet of poisonous substance was found by the side of Acharya's body, which give an indication that the head of the family had planned the deaths of himself and his family members. Being a jeweller, it was easy for him to get cyanide, it is being analyzed.
Food in three plates were consumed while the other was not. Rice soaked in water for preparing Dosa batter was found inside the house, giving an indication that Nirmala Acharya did not have an inkling of her husband's plans.
Shankaracharya had sent a boy working in his shop on a holiday to his native place a few days back, telling him that he would call him back when his services were needed. Owner of the neighbouring shop said Acharya had cleaned up his shop on the night of Wednesday. Acharya, it is said, also ensured that he returned every piece of gold for which he had received orders, to the customers before leaving for heavenly abode.
Engagement angle
Both the daughters of Acharya were intelligent. His elder daughter Shruti had completed her MBA degree course through a college at Moodbidri and had bagged an employment. She was engaged to marry a youth working at Chennai on September 3. The fact that Acharya chose extinction of his family weeks before the marriage of his daughter has given rise to doubts about the possibility of this incident having some links with this marriage. His younger daughter Shreya had paid fee for studying MCA course in a college at Manipal, it is gathered.
Many have put forth the theory that the Acharya was overburdened by debt, and that he would have chosen to escape from the insult of being unable to repay his debt. But on the face it, the family's friends and relatives claim, no such problems were evident. This has confounded the issue further. Acharya's brothers who live in neighbouring houses, do not have a clue what happened. His mother, who lives with Shankaracharya's brother by the side, had visited the family of Shankaracharya at about 8.30 am to give flower to Nirmala when she saw that the door was open and family members were lying unconscious. She called for help and immediately and the unconscious people were taken to Manipal. As the car in which they were being taken developed problems on the way, they were shifted to another car and taken to Manipal hospital but the doctors pronounced them brought dead.
So far there has not been a clinching clue that can point out the exact reason for these deaths. No death notes were found and close ones are not aware what was bothering Shankaracharya. Perhaps things might begin to unravel with the progress of investigation undertaken by the Shirva police during the days to come.
Funeral of the deceased was conducted at Beedinagudde graveyard on Thursday after postmortem at Manipal. Minister Pramod Madhwaraj expressed shock and grief at this. BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, MP Shobha Karandlaje, MLA Sunil Kumar, former MLAs Ragjiupati Bhat and Lalaji R Mendon, BJP leaders Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, Yashpal Suvarna, Gurme Suresh Sjhetty and several others paid last respects to the deceased.