Amaravati: Former Andhra Pradesh speaker Kodala Siva Prasad Rao’s suicide is creating stir in the state’s political circles as ruling YSRCP government had recently lodged various cases against the former minister and his family members.
72-year-old Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, a six time MLA and the former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister was found hanging on Monday morning at his Hyderabad residence. Rao served as the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2019 during the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government.
14 Cases of corruption had been lodged against Rao, his son, Siva Ramakrishna, and daughter, Vijaya Lakshmi.
TDP Chief Chandra Babu Naidu blamed Jagan Mohan Reddy's government for Rao's suicide. “I am not able to digest the death of Kodela Siva Prasad. Kodela suffered because of government’s torture, which resulted in his suicide. He told me that he can’t even sleep at night because of government’s torture and all the cases. I suggested him to fight against the government which will give confidence to the party cadre as well. Him committing suicide is just so sad,” Naidu said.
Rao's son-in-law, Kancheti Sai, alleged that his son, Siva Ramakrishna, was involved in the suicide. “To get Kodela’s property, his son has murdered him and now he is trying to project his murder as suicide,” he said. Sai has filed a complaint at Sattenapalli police station as well.
Quoting Raos daughter, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) AR Srinivas said she found her father hanging from the ceiling fan in his bedroom and he was taken down with the help of his gunman and driver.
The 72-year old leader was rushed to a hospital where he died without responding to treatment, he said.
"As per eye-witnesses account and the information available with us as of now, it appears to be a case of suicide and we suspect it to be suicide," he told reporters here, but added it can be confirmed only after post-mortem report was received.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said Rao was declared dead at the cancer hospital and the body had been shifted to state-run Osmania General Hospital where post-mortem was performed on Monday night.
The hospital in a release said Rao was brought at 11.35 am "in an unresponsive state". As per protocol resuscitative measures were initiated immediately.
"In spite of best efforts of the medical team at Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital, he could not be revived and declared dead at 12.39 pm," its Chief Executive Officer Dr R V Prabhakara Rao said.
No suicide note had been found, the DCP said adding investigation was on under an Assistant Commissioner of Police rank officer.
Meanwhile, YSRCP leader and Municipal Affairs Minister, Botsa Satyanarayana, also commented on Rao's suicide. “We have so many doubts over former speaker’s death. Media channels are showing so many different versions. Telangana government should conduct a detailed inquiry on this issue,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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