The Hebbal police on Wednesday arrested Janata Dal (Secular) member R. Surendra Babu, husband of popular Kannada film and television actor H.N. Hemashree (30), in connection with her mysterious death on Tuesday evening.
The police, who had detained the 52-year-old land developer on Tuesday evening, arrested him even as the post-mortem reports suggested foul play and the viscera sent to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory. Hemashree’s father H.T. Nagaraj has filed a case in the Hebbal police station.
Mr. Babu had contested unsuccessfully from Bangalore North parliamentary constituency in 2009 general elections on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket.
Multiple injuries
Victoria Hospital sources, on condition of anonymity, said that the body bore multiple injuries, including the head and face. There were abrasions on the cheek and mouth. Besides, there were indications she had been smothered.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) H.S. Revanna said: “We will now conduct forensic tests to establish the actual cause of death.”
The police said Mr. Babu told them the couple was driving to Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday evening when Hemashree developed convulsions and fell unconscious. He claimed he took her to Baptist Hospital where she died later.
However, Baptist Hospital authorities, who have filed a medico-legal case, said the actor was brought dead on Tuesday evening.
They said death had occurred at least two hours prior to her being brought there.
Troubled marriage
The couple, married in 2011, had been having problems. Last month, Hemashree had complained to Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), T. Suneel Kumar about her husband. She was advised to contact the Cubbon Park police. However, no case was registered with the Cubbon Park police at the time.
It was the second marriage for Mr. Babu, who had divorced his first wife to marry Hemashree.
