Realtor dies of gunshot wound

V Srinivas, 43, a real estate dealer, who has also produced a Kannada movie, is suspected to have shot himself with his own revolver on Saturday night at Lakshmipura, near Udandahalli in Bangalore Rural district.

He is survived by his parents Siddamma and Venkatarama, wife Rekha and daughters Sanjana, 9, and Shalini, 5.

“The incident could have occurred between 7 pm and 9 pm on Saturday, when he was at his farmhouse. He had called his business partner and friend Jagadish to the place but had shot himself before his friend could reach there,” one of the investigating officers told Deccan Herald.

Srinivas was said to be suffering from depression and insomnia for the last few months. In a statement, his wife said she was not aware that he used to consume sleeping pills regularly.

“He didn’t do such a thing about six years ago when we had difficulties in business. I cannot imagine why he would do this now when everything was going fine. We suspect foul play,” a policeman quoted Rekha as saying.

Srinivas’ body was taken to Rajarajeshwari Hospital, where a post mortem was performed. The 0.32 calibre bullet, fired from a very short range, entered his temple on the right, but there was no exit wound.

Given the range from where the bullet was fired from his licensed revolver and the initial post mortem findings, the police suspect it to be a suicide.

“We will also probe other angles, given that the family suspects the involvement of somebody else. We will begin with getting a complete call list from the last month or so,” a police officer said.

A forensic experts team led by Dr Ravindra has already visited the spot and begun investigation. “We will wait for the Forensic Science Lab report and proceed with the investigation,” the officer said.

The family has not named anybody in particular but has only expressed doubts about it being a suicide. Srinivas had left his home in Mahaganapathinagar, Rajajinagar Industrial Area, in the afternoon on Saturday. He dropped his mother and wife to one of their relatives’ house in Mudalapalya and was supposed to have picked them up later.

However, he had told them he could not do that. He is later said to have called Jagadish to his farmhouse between 6.50 pm and 7.05 pm. “His friend was with his family and he did not rush to the spot. He dropped his family members home and tried calling him at about 8 pm. On geting the message that the number was not reachable, he left for the farmhouse, but it was all too late by then,” the police said.

The police suspect that Srinivas had made up his mind to commit suicide. “His call records suggested that he had called many of his friends and met close relatives. It appears as if he had decided to kill himself,” police said.