Bengaluru, July 19: Lakshmivara Teertha Swami of the Shiroor Mutt in Karnataka died on Thursday. Reports say that Teertha Swami, 55, died due to suspected food poisoning. His body has been taken for post-mortem. Following claims by followers of a foul play, the Karnataka government has ordered a probe into the seer's death.

One of the doctors at the KMC Hospital, where the seer's body was taken, said that he also suspected that Teertha Swami died of food poisoning. "I also suspect it, the blood shows it. But I can't confirm it. It can only be confirmed by the forensic team," said Dr Ravi Shetty of KMC Hospital.

The followers of the mutt have said that Teertha Swami was poisoned. Teertha Swami was rushed to the KMC hospital, Manipal, on Wednesday night after suspected food poisoning. Reports say that he was taken to the hospital after he complained of severe stomach ache after attending a programme and later started vomiting.

Lakshmivara Teertha Swami was the 30th pontiff of the Shiroor Mutt in Udupi. He made headlines in the recently held Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018. Teertha Swami had during the elections announced that he would contest polls on either a BJP ticket or as an Independent candidate. He had later withdrawn his nomination from the Udupi constituency.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2018 01:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).