VIJAYAWADA/ONGOLE: The last rites of Sasikala, 38, and her son Anish Sai, 6, who were brutally murdered in the US, were performed at Timmarajupalem in Paruchur mandal of Prakasam district, the native place of her husband Hanumanth Rao, on Sunday without his presence.
The Burlington Police Department, which is investigating the murders, had denied permission to Narra Hanumantha Rao to leave the US. After initial hiatus, the bodies were flown from the US to Hyderabad on Sunday.
On its way to Timmarajupalem from Hyderabad, the vehicle carrying the bodies of Sasikala and her son was stopped near Manipal Hospitals at Varadhi on the outskirts of Vijayawada so that her parents can pay their last respects to Sasikala and Anish.
Her parents Venkateswara Rao and Krishna Kumari along with their relatives had last glance atSasikala and Anish Sai.
At one point, it looked unlikely that the bodies of Sasikala and her son would be brought to Andhra Pradesh as Hanumantha Rao had expressed his wish to perform the last rights of his wife and son in the US itself, but later he changed his mind.
It took some effort on the part of relatives and friends of both families to ensure that the vehicle carrying bodies on their way to Timmarajupallem was stopped in Vijayawada.
Sasikala’s parents have differences with their son-in-law as they are suspecting his hand in the murder of their daughter and grandson.
After Sasikala and her son were found killed in their flat in Fox Meadows Apartment Complex in Burlington, New Jersey in USA, her parents alleged that Hanumantha Rao was behind the murder. Sasikala’s parents alleged that Rao has an extramarital affair with another woman and complained the same to Burlington police. They claimed that relationship between their daughter and her husband has been on the rocks. During preliminary investigation, Burlington police found that Hanumantha Rao was in his office at the time of the murders at his US home.
As per standard operating procedure, they seized the passport of Hanumanth Rao. Though they returned it, they denied permission to him to leave the US for attending the funeral of his wife and son in India.
Meanwhile, Hanumantha Rao’s father Narra Subba Rao performed the last rites in Timmarajupalem as per Hindu tradition. While Sasikala was cremated, Anish Sai was buried.