A relative of former Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, has filed a complaint with the Sattenapalli police station on Monday alleging foul play in his death. He said that he suspected that Rao could have been murdered and that the murder was staged as a suicide. Siva Prasada Rao died on Monday, 16 September, at the Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute in Hyderabad.
The person identified as Kancheti Sai, who is the brother-in-law of Kodela Rao, accused Rao’s son Siva Ramakrishna of torturing his father mentally and physically. He alleged that Sivaramakrishna could have killed his father to acquire his property.
Sai questioned as to why the former Speaker was taken to a cancer hospital for treatment. Rao was taken to Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute in Hyderabad after he allegedly killed himself. The hospital is owned by TDP MLA and actor Balakrishna.
“They could have taken him to some other hospital, but Basavatarakam is a cancer hospital. Why was he taken there? Even when taking him to hospital, only the gunman and driver were present and the family members were missing. This further raises suspicion,” he said.
Sai further alleged, “He told me four-five times over the phone that his son was torturing him both physically and mentally.”
Meanwhile, the four-member team at Osmania General Hospital who conducted the autopsy determined the cause of death to be hanging, as a U-shaped mark was found on his neck.
The Banjara Hills Police registered a case of suspicious death in this regard following which the autopsy was conducted.
Basavatarakam Hospital maintained that the former Speaker was brought to the hospital at 11.35 am and was declared dead at 12.39 pm.
According to his daughter P Vijayalakshmi, Rao had his breakfast at around 10 am and went upstairs. She said that as he did not return, they went upstairs and found him hanging.
However, as conflicting reports emerged about Rao’s death, Andhra Pradesh Minister of Municipal Administration Botsa Satyanarayana too demanded a probe by the Telangana police into Rao’s death.
It may be noted that his daughter Vijayalakshmi and son Siva Ramakrishna were booked by the Narsaraopet police recently for extorting money from traders and other people in the region.
( Published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
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