Police in Telangana detained a former Congress parliamentarian for questioning on Wednesday after four of his family members died in a fire that broke out at their house in Warangal district.
Former Congress MP Siricilla Rajaiah, his wife Madhavi and their son Anil Kumar were picked up from their house and taken to an undisclosed location under tight security.
Police said the three were present in the house in Hanamkonda area of Warangal city, when a fire broke out on the second floor. Rajaiah’s daughter-in-law, S Sarika, and his three grandchildren, died on the spot.
Sarika, who was married to Rajaiah’s son Anil, had last year filed a case of harassment against the former MP, his wife, his son and another woman. Some reports said she had even staged a protest demonstration outside his house with her three children.
Earlier reports suggested that a leaking gas cylinder might have caused the fire at the house, but police officials said it was too early to come to a conclusion.
“She was not the sort who would kill herself. She was committed to looking after her three children. She has definitely been killed and those responsible should be punished,” NDTV quoted Sarika’s sister Anuradha said.
{{/usCountry}}“She was not the sort who would kill herself. She was committed to looking after her three children. She has definitely been killed and those responsible should be punished,” NDTV quoted Sarika’s sister Anuradha said.
{{/usCountry}}Rajaiah, a former member of parliament from Warangal constituency, was set to file his nomination papers for the bypoll scheduled on November 21. After the incident the Congress picked former union minister Sarve Satyanarayana as its candidate.
(With agency inputs)