Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (DC)

Udupi, Jul 19: The KMC hospital Manipal in a press release after the Shiroor mutt seer's death, said that there is suspicion of poisoning.

"Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji was brought to Kasturba hospital, Manipal at 1 am on July 18 from a private hospital in Udupi. On arrival he was found to be critically ill with breathlessness, severe hypotension and massive gastrointestinal bleeding. He had history of diarrhoea prior to this episode. All routine investigations were done,”

Swamiji - File photo

"A team of doctors from Kasturba hospital provided medical care in the form of ventilator support, blood transfusion and dialysis. There is suspicion of poisoning and toxicological samples have been sent. However, his condition continued to deteriorate rapidly in spite of best efforts from the medical team. He was declared dead at 8 am on July 19," the release read.

Earlier report

Udupi: Shiroor Swamiji cited threat to his life – seer’s advocate

Ravikiran Murdeshwar, advocate representing the Shiroor Math seer Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji, hours after seer was declared dead, said that the seer had cited threat to his life over issue of idols of presiding deities of his Math.

Speaking to reporters, Ravikiran, Kundapur based lawyer, who represented the Shiroor seer, said, "The seer had asked to file criminal case against all 6 seers barring Puttige Swamiji. I had prepared for the same. He had discussed about the threat to his life for almost 2 hours with me,"

"There should be a high level enquiry into the death of the seer,” he added.

Ravikiran Murdeshwar

Sri Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji, head of Shiroor Math, passed away on the wee hours of Thursday, July 19.

Poisoning was cause of death?

The doctors at the KMC hospital said that the seer might have consumed food laced with poison.

Speaking to media persons, Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent of KMC, said, "Seer might have consumed food laced with poison. We have informed the police about seer's death. Post-mortem report will reveal the facts,”

The post-mortem is carried out in the presence of Manipal police.

Meanwhile Vishwa Vijaya Swami, junior pontiff of the Pejawar Math has demanded high-level enquiry into the death citing that the death was not natural.

Since the seer was ill few months ago, he had given the idols of the presiding deities of his Math to Ishtapriya Theertha Swami, junior seer of Adamaru Math to keep at the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Krishna Math. But when he sought the idols back after his recovery, the seers of the six of the Ashta Maths refused to hand over them. The six seers agreed to return the idols after he appoints a junior seer, which was not accepted by the seer. He had even threatened to file a criminal case. 

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Statement from advocate:

Statement from hospital: