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Udupi (Karnataka): In a distressing incident, 68-year-old Leeladhar Shetty, a celebrated artiste and founder of the Rangataranga theatre group, along with his wife Vasundhara Shetty, was discovered dead at their residence in Karnataka’s Udupi district hours after their 17-year-old adopted daughter went missing. The bodies of the philanthropic couple were found hanging in their Kapu town home, marking a grim turn of events.
Leeladhar Shetty, fondly known as Leelanna, left an indelible mark on the world of theater and philanthropy. The couple’s extensive contributions to society have earned them various awards, making their sudden demise all the more poignant.
According to reports, police sources mentioned that the Shetty couple had adopted the girl about 16 years ago.
Living in Karandadi village in Majoor village of Kaup taluk, the couple was deeply distressed by their daughter’s disappearance on Tuesday, as shared by their relatives. Using a nylon sari, they took this drastic step between 11:20 PM on December 12 and 12:30 AM on December 13.
Kapu Police have launched an official investigation into the matter based on a complaint filed by Leeladhar’s relative, MohanKumar D Shetty, and further details are eagerly awaited to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this untimely and unfortunate incident.
68-year-old Leeladhar, who had previously contested from the Kaup assembly constituency, held positions as the president and member of the Majoor gram panchayat. His renowned drama troupe was a testament to his popularity, and he maintained a close association with Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty.
Apart from this, he had been at the forefront of the Kaup Buntara Sangha and earned recognition as a proficient actor-director. He founded Kaup Rangataranga and was honored with the Udupi district Rajyotsava award.
