Atul charged with kidnap and instigating suicide of Padmapriya

Mangalore, Jun 23 (UNI) Manipal police today arrested Atul Rao, the close friend of Udupi BJP MLA K Raghupathy Bhat, on charges of kidnapping and instigating suicide of the legislator's wife Padmapriya, whose body was found hanging in a Delhi apartment last week.

Ever since the sensational case came to light when the 32-year-old woman went missing from her home in Udupi, police had maintained that Atul was not taken into custody and he was only cooperating with the police in the investigation.

Incidentally, it was Atul who led the police to the apartment in Dwarka where the legislator's wife committed suicide. It was said that Atul had helped Padmapriya to hire an apartment in Delhi after she decided to move away from her husband as their marriage turned sour.

The complaint lodged by Bhat four days ago was today taken as the FIR. Based on this, the arrest was made. Atul is likely to be taken to Udupi tonight or tomorrow and would produced before a court.

Investigation officer B G Achar told UNI that Atul was arrested under section 306 and 365 of CRPC (kidnap and instigating suicide).

He was taken for questioning, he said.

Replying a query he said he was not sure when the post-mortem report of Padmapriya would be sent to Udupi police by the Safdarjung Hospital authorities. ''It may take another couple of days,'' he said.

UNI MA RS VV SK HS1940