No suspicion in Guruprasad’s death, was distressed with debts, says wife

BENGALURU: Regarding Kannada actor and filmmaker Guruprasad’s suicide, his wife Sumithra has filed a complaint stating that her husband died by suicide due to mental distress owing to huge debt. The Madanayakanahalli police station have registered a case under unnatural death (UDR).

As per the complaint, she stated that she married Guruprasad in 2020, and they have a 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Previously, Guruprasad was married to Arthi, but they divorced.

After the marriage, they lived in various rented houses, including Napa Valley on Kanakapura Road, EC Divine Block in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, and Balaji Residency in Basaveshwaranagar. Later, they shifted to New Heaven Apartments on Huskur Road.

Due to health issues, he sent his wife to her mother’s house and asked her to stay with her mother. The last time they met was during the Lok Sabha elections. Guruprasad was busy with film work, so she stayed in touch over the phone. On October 25, she called him, but he didn’t respond. She thought he was busy, she noted in her complaint.

On November 3, apartment resident Jayaram called her, saying a foul smell was coming from their flat. Despite knocking, there was no response. With police help, they broke open the door to find Guruprasad hanging.

Sumithra said she knew Guruprasad had taken loans for film projects and was under stress. She also assured him they would settle the debts. However, he was depressed, locked himself inside alone, and took the extreme step. She has urged the police to take the necessary action.

According to Bengaluru Rural SP CK Baba, Guruprasad was going through financial distress and had recently returned to his apartment in Bengaluru.

“In a Madanayakahalli police station limits in an apartment, a 52-year-old filmmaker Guruprasad was residing. He was recently upset with something; films and other matters. He was going through financial distress also, it seems. So 4-5 days back he had come to this house. The neighbours had seen him coming to this house but after 5-6 days it appeared that he didn’t come out of the house and he had hanged himself,” said SP CK Baba.

“The investigation will continue under section 194. We will look into the details and the cause of the death,” he added.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took to his X account to express his shock and wrote, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the demise of Mr. Guruprasad, a creative director and a native of Kanakpur. I pray that the soul of Guruprasad, who contributed his own style to silver screen and television, may rest in peace. I also share in the pain of the deceased’s family and loved ones. Om Shanti,” he posted on X.

Guruprasad was known for his satirical style of filmmaking. His debut film Mata (2006) was widely appreciated, and his 2009 film Eddelu Manjunatha won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay. (ANI)