A couple died on the spot after their car was involved in a collision with the police escort vehicle for Sri Vishwesha Theertha, the chief seer of Pejawar Mutt in Udupi's Sri Krishna Temple. The couple was approaching Bengaluru from Chikballapur via Hoskote in an Indigo car when the collision occurred near Karappana Halli gate in Hosakote of Bengaluru Rural district around 7.45 am on Sunday morning.
The couple were identified as Ramakrishnaiah (65) and Sarvalochana (50). "We were alerted to the incident immediately and we rushed to the spot. The couple was found dead, while ASI Shambaiah who was in the police escort vehicle, has sustained injuries in his leg in the incident," said a police official from Nandagudi Police Station who rushed to the spot to investigate the incident. The injured police official Shambaiah has been admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru to receive treatment following the accident.
Sri Vishwesha Theertha, who was in a car behind the police escort vehicle escaped the incident unhurt. He was headed towards Chintamani in Chikkaballapura district for a function when the incident occurred.
The seer is an influential public figure and the chief seer of the Pejawar mutt in Udupi's famed Sri Krishna Temple. He has ascended the 'Paryaya Peetha' as the chief seer in Udupi's Sri Krishna Temple five times. He stepped down from the position earlier this year in January. He has been in the news in the past for his remarks on various issues.