Shiroor Swamiji case: FSL report says poison not cause of death, cops tightlipped

Mangaluru: The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has submitted its report on the death of Sri Lakshmivara Teertha Swamiji of Udupi Shiroor Matha and though there is no statement from the police department, sources claim the 

FSL has denied that poison was the cause of the seer's death. The report has also pointed to the health problems the seer was suffering from, mainly his liver disorder.

Police officials said they would comment only after the doctors submit the final report. The FSL test is based on the viscera and other parts that were sent to the FSL lab after the post-mortem at Manipal Hospital.

Sources confirmed that the FSL report has been sent to the doctors of Kasturba Medical Hospital who conducted the seer's post-mortem. After going through the FSL report and post-mortem reports, the doctors will now give the final cause of death. 

The reason for the final cause of death is expected to be submitted to the police by the end of this week or early next week. 

Meanwhile to ensure that there are no doubts in the minds of people over the death of the seer and to ensure transparency in the entire episode, 

the police has sent some questions which the team of doctors have to reply while submitting the final report on the cause of death.

The post-mortem report submitted to the police department in the last week of July, had referred to various health problem of the seer including  massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Sri Lakshmivara Teertha Swamiji who complained of diarrhoea, had got himself admitted to a private hospital in Udupi on July 17 and when his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to Kasturba Hospital in Manipal on July 18. He died on July 19. His brother Lathavya Acharya had raised doubt over the death of the seer based on which the police registered a Unnatural Death Report (with suspicion) under Section 174C of CrPC.