Soundarya, 30, granddaughter of the former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, was found dead at her flat in Vasanthnagar on Friday morning. The police suspect it is a case of suicide. She was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared her “brought dead”.
A surgeon by profession, Dr. Soundarya is the daughter of Mr. Yediyurappa’s eldest daughter, Padma. She married a fellow doctor, Niraj, two years ago. The couple lived in a flat in Vasanthnagar and both worked at M.S. Ramaiah Hospital. They had a baby six months ago.
On Friday morning, Dr. Niraj left for work, while Dr. Soundarya and their baby were at home with the house help. According to the police, around 10 a.m., Dr. Soundarya locked herself up in the bedroom. She did not respond to repeated calls by the house help. Worried, the domestic help called Dr. Niraj, who immediately returned to the flat and broke open the bedroom door to find his wife dead.
The last rites were conducted at Dr. Niraj’s farm house at Soladevanahalli on Friday evening. The High Grounds police have registered a case of unnatural death.
The former Chief Minister, shaken by the loss of his granddaughter, sat by her body throughout the ceremony, unwilling to speak to anyone, family sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, and other political leaders across party lines called and consoled Mr. Yediyurappa. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was by his side for most part of the day.
(Those in distress or those having suicidal tendencies can call Arogya Sahayavani Ph.: 104 for help.)
