Karnataka: Missing nephew of MLA found dead in canal

DAVANAGERE: The nephew of Honnali MLA M P Renukacharya, who had been missing since Sunday midnight from his Honnali residence, was on Thursday found dead in his car that had fallen into Tunga canal near Soratur between Nyamathi and Honnali taluks.
The deceased is Chandrashekhar M R, 25. Police suspect the car would have hit the retaining wall of the bridge over the canal before plunging into waters.
Officials from Honnali fire station lifted the car from the canal, and the body was found on the rear seat of the vehicle. After the opening of airbags, Chandrashekhar would have moved to the rear seat to come out by smashing the windshield, according to investigating officers.
The families of M P Ramesh, 58, father of Chandrashekhar, and Renukacharya rushed to the spot, after which they were inconsolable.
Chandrashekhar had left his residence around 7.30pm on Sunday in his father’s car, saying he was going to Gowri Katte near Shivamogga. Family sources said Chandrashekhar had gone to Vinay Guruji’s ashram at Gowri Katte.
He was expected to return by midnight, Renukacharya said, adding: “But his cellphone was switched off when we tired calling him at 12.30am.”
Davanagere SP C B Ryshyanth, along with police officers, fire personnel and a large number of villagers gathered near the canal.
Detailed investigation, forensic tests and postmortem will give the exact cause of Chandrashekhar’s death, police said.