Karnataka Prasad poisoning: over 15 bottlles of pesticides were mixed in 'prasad' that took 15 lives, claims police

Days after the deadly prasad poisoning case in Karnataka's temple that killed around 15 people and over 120 hospitalised after eating religious offering, a shocking revelation has been made by the police in the matter. The police arrested a local seer and three others were arrested on Wednesday. They suspected were arrested on the charges of conspiring to kill devotees to defame the management and take control of the shrine.

The preliminary investigation states that 15 bottles of pesticides were added to the prasad while it was being prepared, said the police. The 52-year old seer and the three accused, a woman, her husband and his friend -- have been charged with murder, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, senior police officer KV Sharath Chandra said.

"Mahadeshwara Hill Saluru Math seer Pattada Immadi Mahadeshwara Swamy or Devanna Buddhi connived not only to take over the temple trust but also to defame the existing trust members," he told reporters in Chamarajanagar.

The seer who was temple control till 2017, was later sidelined which infuriated him, police said. According to police, the 35-year old woman allegedly arranged for pesticide and her husband and his friend mixed it in the prasad while it was being prepared on the order of the seer.

"The seer was upset with the formation of the trust without his wish as his source of income almost dried up. Since then, shadow boxing between the temple management and the seer began," he said.

In the poisoing, 15 people died and more than 100 people are still in hospitals after consuming the poisonous prasad on December 14 at Sulvadi at an event to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the tower of the Kichchugutti Maramma Devi temple.

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