City police arrest five men in connection with Leelavathi murder case

City police arrest five men in connection with Leelavathi murder case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 22, 2012 : SP Abhishek Goyal informed reporters at a press meet held in his office today that the city police have arrested five people, including a retired medical officer, in connection with the murder of a young woman from Bantwal.

Leelavathi (34) died early this month owing to complications arising from induced abortion and excessive bleeding.


 

The arrested are Bhaskar Poojary, Bharathi, Sadileela alias Leela Karkera, retired medical officer Dr. Hanumath Rao, and rickshaw driver Lakshman Poojary. They have all been booked under Section 314 and Section 315 of the Indian Penal Code, produced in court, and sentenced to judicial custody till Oct 1.

It may be recalled that the dead body of Leelavathi was found in a ditch on September 6 at Neerapalke in Panjikallu in Bantwal. The autopsy revealed the skull of a 5-month-old fetus in her womb.

Police investigation revealed that Bhaskar Poojary, her cousin, was the father of the unborn baby. When he came to know that she was pregnant, he sought the help of Dr. Hanumanth Rao to terminate the pregnancy.

Dr. Rao gave Leelavathi an injection and abortion-inducing medication, after which he sent her with Bhaskar to Minsa Hospital in Kankanady, where Leela Karkera helped in admitting her illegally. Bhaskar also gave Rs. 6000 to Leela to abort the fetus without the knowledge of the hosital’s medical staff.

However, Leelavathi developed complications during the night and died. Bhaskar brought her dead body back to Panjikallu in his friend Lakshman’s rickshaw and dumped it in the ditch.

The police have seized the auto rickshaw and a motorcycle belonging to Bhaskar. Puttur ASP Anuchet led the police investigation.