The suicide case in Udupi has taken a new turn as Soumya Shetty, who has been accused of abetting her husband Sudeep Shetty’s death, signed a statement denying all accusations.
Soumya, a makeup artist and actress who works in several Tulu drama troupes, defended her husband’s death and said Sudeep had taken poison voluntarily. In her view, Sudeep was stable as soon as he consumed the substance and had told police himself of the act.
She said Sudeep remained normal for 4 to 5 days after it happened, so his health deteriorated gradually and she soon admitted him to a hospital, the diagnosis of which could have been food poisoning, the doctors thinking of jaundice. But then his condition deteriorated and he died after going to several hospitals, and it appeared to happen in later visits.
Soumya confirmed that the couple had got married in February at Puttur and was solemnised at Kukkunoor temple on March 19. She was able to indicate that Sudeep may have consumed poison when he was in Nelyadi but she did not know the location nor the motive.
As she looked back at this encounter she said that she had tried several times to contact Sudeep and had grown concerned when he never showed up at his messages. She also believed that he may have poisoned himself if he did not answer when she tried to contact him, so this was when she found him anxious; they had been talking and she was worried about him.
To respond to Sudeep’s family’s assertions, Soumya claimed that there had been tensions and no acceptance of their marriage. Sudeep’s family had agreed initially, but later withdrew their support.
In addition, Sudeep was under heavy financial pressure with a debt of lakhs which she knew before marriage. For that reason, she married him and supported him in buying property.
Soumya also denied the claims about her personal life so far and admitted that she only had one previous marriage, which ended in divorce because of harassment nearly nine years ago. The idea of multiple marriages, she said, is false and misleading.
She claimed Sudeep had approached her on Facebook almost a year before her marriage; he also knew her past. She insisted that their relationship was consensual and that they planned to settle in Bengaluru together even though family protested.
Soumya questioned the accusations against her and stated that the police must investigate all angles including family dynamics and external pressures. She said she would seek a fair investigation at the Karkala police station.
The case continues to be investigated, but police are still waiting for medical and forensic evidence to determine exactly what was the cause and circumstances of Sudeep’s death.
