HYDERABAD/WARANGAL:Doctors who conducted post mortem on the bodies of former MP Sircilla Rajaiah’s daughter-in-law Sarika and her three children, are of the opinion that the fire in the house was caused due to LPG leak and the fire broke out between 1.30 am and 2.30 am.
Police officials are, however, not taking the opinion on face value as it has been given orally and they have now asked the doctors to give their entire report in writing.
However, the key question before the investigators now is the cause of death and whether the burns were anti-mortem or post-mortem and answers to these key questions may take at least a couple of days as forensic experts continue to struggle to find their feet in the case.
Top sources associated with the investigation told Express that they were now awaiting a written autopsy report from the doctors who conducted the post mortem on the bodies at MGM Hospital in Warangal on Thursday even as protests were staged outside the hospital demanding severe punishment to Rajaiah and his family who, they alleged, had killed them.
“Doctors have given an oral opinion that the fire was caused by gas leak and no petrol or kerosene was used. The fire broke out between 1.30 am and 2.30 am. But we have asked them to give the report in writing as oral opinions cannot be taken on face value,” a police official disclosed to Express.
The official said that the task before them now was to ascertain whether the burns were anti-mortem or post-mortem (whether they were burnt after their death or before they died). “This is the critical aspect of the case. It will take at least two more days for us to ascertain this aspect,” he said.
Sources said that there was no gas in the cylinder as well. “In many fire mishaps involving gas cylinders, even the cylinder explodes in the process but here it was intact and without gas,” they said.
What has intrigued the investigators is the claim of servants and drivers who maintained that they did not hear anything when the fire is believed to have broken out on the first floor of the building. “The servants and other staff claim they heard nothing, no cries for help or any commotion. Only some locals from outside saw the flames and smoke emanating from the house,” the sources said.
Asked whether Rajaiah revealed anything unusual that night, the sources replied in the negative.
Associate professor in the department of forensic medicine Dr BY Nagamohan and assistant professor Dr KP Vasanth Kumar performed the postmortem and collected viscera and blood samples from the four bodies that have been ‘extensively burned’ in the incident. The viscera and blood samples will be sent to the FSL, Hyderabad, only on Friday.
The viscera report is expected in two or three weeks. “Though it takes one month, we will ask for an early report since it is a high-profile case,” said a police officer. Additional DCP Yadaiah, who monitored the postmortem at the MGM Hospital, said that the postmortem had been conducted by following all due procedures in order to give no scope for controversy.
The relatives of Sarika, including her mother Lalitha and sister Archana, too alleged that Sarika’s in-laws had murdered her and her children but they were attempting to depict it as a suicide. Meanwhile, the doctors also conducted medical examination on Rajaiah, his wife Madhavi and son Anil at the MGM Hospital while they were in police custody.
Police also interrogated Rajaiah, Madhavi and Anil at Mamunoor police station on the city outskirts for the second day on Thursday.
Police questioned 20 other people including vehicle drivers, housemaids, security guard at Rajaiah’ house and others who visited Rajaiah prior to the incident.
Sources said that the forensic team, FSL Hyderabad, which inspected the crime scene on Wednesday, collected samples of food from Rajaiah’s house in wake of allegations that victims were poisoned before the ‘murder’.
Last Rites Performed near MGM Hospital
Meanwhile, members of the Viswabrahmana Sangham and Swarankarula Sangham have come forward to perform the last rites for Sarika and her children by collecting donations as the relatives of Sarika, including her mother Lalitha, expressed haplessness in performing the last rites. As such, the last rites were performed at Pothananagar ‘Smasana Vakita’ near MGM Hospital in Warangal. Hundreds of members of the Viswabrahmana community attended the funeral.
Nagging Questions
AIDWA Leaders Stage Rasta Roko
AIDWA activists and other women organisations staged a rasta roko in front of MGM Hospital demanding severe punishment to former MP Siricilla Rajaiah and his family in connection with the suspicious death of Sarika and her children on Thursday. AIDWA district leader Ch Ratnamala and others alleged that Sarika, daughter-in-law of Rajaiah, and her three sons were murdered by her in-laws. Meanwhile, MRPS leader Manda Krishna, who visited the hospital, demanded a probe with High Court sitting judge to bring out the truth behind the deaths.