Filmmaker Guruprasad’s mobile phone sent to FSL, other gadgets seized

BENGALURU: Following the death of Kannada actor and filmmaker Guruprasad at his flat, the Madanayakanahalli police, who are investigating the suicide case, searched for a suicide note, but did not find any. They have seized four mobile phones, two tabs and a laptop. The mobile phone was switched off as it has not been charged for the past four days.

The police feel that they may know the exact cause of suicide if Guruprasad had recorded any video on his mobile phone before his death. Police sources said that till such time, they will consider the wife’s statement that he was in debt and suffering from depression.

The phone has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further examination. They will check call records for the past month, retrieve messages, and WhatsApp chat details to establish whether someone has pressured him  repeatedly, with whom he had exchanged more calls or whether anyone had abetted the suicide.

The police, who are probing the case from multiple angles, are looking into Guruprasad’s bank accounts and other financial transactions. They will look into his contacts, film-related matters and personal issues.

Guruprasad had to pay Rs 30 lakh to V Srinivas and he had given Srinivas a cheque which bounced. Srinivas had filed a cheque bounce case against him at the Girinagar police station.

Guruprasad was supposed to appear in court on October 22, but didn’t due to illness. He had submitted a medical certificate. The next hearing was scheduled for November 19. It is being speculated that he might have feared the verdict would go in favour Srinivas and may have been apprehensive about an arrest warrant being issued against him.