35-year-old former seer of Bellary mutt dies in accident

A former seer of Siddarudha Mutt in Bellary was killed and two others injured when the car they were travelling in rammed into the rear of a stationary lorry near Tippegondanahalli in Nelamangala around 6 am on Friday.

Identifying the dead seer as 35-year-old Abhinava Gurusiddha Swamiji, the police named the injured as Siddharudha Siddarameshwara Mahaswami, 45, of Siddarameshwara Mutt. The driver of the ill-fated car, who was injured, was identified as Sharan M.

The condition of the injured swami was stated to be critical. Both the injured men were admitted to a private hospital.

Abhinava Gurusiddha Swamiji, previously Mallikarjuna Devaru of Bagalkote, had split from the Siddarudha Mutt following disputes with the leadership of the Mutt.

The car was travelling to Bangalore when it rear-ended the parked lorry. The lorry had been parked on the side of the road, and its headlights were switched off.

It is quite likely that the car driver had failed to notice the parked lorry, as daylight had still not broken.

The police have arrested the lorry driver. The lorry too was confiscated by the police.