Unable to get Sai Baba8217;s darshan, two commit suicide

BANGALORE, APRIL 21: Unable to get a darshan of Sai Baba, three persons of a family from Chennai decided to end their lives in a suicide ...

BANGALORE, APRIL 21: Unable to get a darshan of Sai Baba, three persons of a family from Chennai decided to end their lives in a suicide pact at a city hotel on Tuesday evening. One of them, however, survived.

The trio 8212; Seethammal 56, her daughter Usha Rani 40 and her grandson Sri Krishna 18 8212; of Vigneshwara Nagar near Vadapalani in Chennai, checked into Amar Hotel on Tank Bund Road on Saturday. They had come to the City to have a darshan of the Baba at his Whitefield ashram.

Police found Seethamal and Sri Krishna alive in the room when they entered it. Seethammal, however, died on the way to hospital, while Sri Krishna is under medical care.

A suicide note written in Tamil by Usha Rani to the police said they paid many visits to the ashram, and their appeals for a personal darshan with the Baba was turned down by the swami8217;s aides.

The note, which mentioned their address, further stated they were frustrated as they could not even get a glimpse of the Baba.

While in Chennai they hadcontacted the Baba over phone, who after hearing their problems, had invited them to his ashram.

Police said the trio must have consumed poison mixed with liquor and food on Sunday night or on Monday afternoon. The incident came to light, after a hotel staff found some white liquid coming out from the room.

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The police also recovered a liquor bottle, some leftover food and several books and literature on Sai Baba from the hotel room. A letter, apparently written by Sri Krishna in English, read: 8220;We failed to get an interview of your Holiness. We will keep on trying8230;8221;

The police also retrieved a 200-page notebook with inscriptions Om Sri Sai Baba8217; and an identity card declaring Usha Rani as the member of Sree Sai Baba Association, Chennai. The suicide note had further directed the police to distribute some of their money to the poor.

The police have registered a case and are investigating.