HYDERABAD: Former member of Rajya Sabha and TDP vice president Akarapu Sudarshan died of heart attack in a private hospital here on Wednesday. He was 57. He collapsed while watching his daughter-in-law making allegations of dowry harassment against her husband and family members in a private television channel. He died while undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital.
The former parliamentarian was resting in his house when one of his friends called him and told him about his daughter-in-law making allegations of dowry harassment on a TV channel. Sudarshan’s 24-year daughter-in-law Sudha, had earlier registered a case of dowry harassment against her husband, Ramesh (34).
According to Saroornagar women police station inspector A Laxmi, Ramesh fell in love with Sudha and they got married in 2009. Ramesh is the only son of Sudarshan and though unwillingly, the former MP and his family attended the marriage which was performed at White House function hall at LB Nagar. Their marriage lasted happily for two months and they stayed at Alkapuri. But Ramesh, a realtor, incurred losses in his business soon after. Sudha alleged that as Ramesh started demanding a dowry of `20 lakh and threatened that she would not be accepted into their family if her family did not pay. Sudha’s family members reportedly tried to meet Ramesh’s parents and sort out the differences but the former MP allegedly did not heed. She also alleged that she was once thrown out of the house. The duo separated last February when Sudha went to her parents house at LB Nagar. A few days later, Ramesh also shifted back to his parents house after taking away their belongings. Sudha then lodged a complaint with LB Nagar police for taking away the articles.
In June this year, she registered a case of dowry harassment against Ramesh, his parents and seven other family members. “A case was registered and Ramesh was arrested. His family members were not arrested as we have to investigate their role and whether they were involved in the harassment,” Laxmi said.
On Wednesday, Sudha appeared in a local TV channel alleging that Ramesh’s parents also harassed her and demanded action against them.
Sudharshan was watching the show when he collapsed and later died while undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital at LB Nagar.
Hailing from Nalgonda district, Sudarshan was elected to the state Assembly for two terms in 1989 and 1994 from Suryapet constituency. He also served as chairman of the APSRTC between 1997-1999. Sudarsan is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters. Expressing grief over the demise of Sudarsan, TDP president N Chandrababu said, “Sudarshan’s death is an irreparable loss to the TDP and for Nalgonda.” Several TDP leaders mourned the death of the former MP at a condolence meeting held at NTR Bhavan here on Wednesday evening.