Court allows accused son to perform last rites of parents in Bengaluru double murder case
Bengaluru: In a significant development in the sensational double murder case, a city court permitted the accused son to perform the last rites of his parents, whom he is alleged to have killed.
The deceased have been identified as retired Navy Captain Naveen Chandra Bhat and his wife Shyamala Bhat. Their son, Rohan Bhat, has been arrested in connection with their murder. Despite the serious charges against him, the court granted temporary permission for him to attend and conduct the funeral rituals.
The request was made by the couple’s daughter, who had arrived from abroad following the incident. In her petition before the court, she sought permission for her brother to perform the last rites of their parents, stating that as the son, he should be allowed to carry out the customary funeral responsibilities. Taking note of her plea, the court allowed Rohan to participate in the cremation under police supervision.
Following the order, police escorted the accused from NIMHANS, where he had been undergoing medical evaluation, to the Wilson Garden crematorium in Bengaluru. The funeral rites were conducted amid tight security arrangements.
Investigators have stated that Rohan Bhat has been suffering from schizophrenia and had been under treatment for several years. Due to his mental health condition, he had reportedly resigned from his job abroad and returned to India.
The case has drawn widespread attention given the tragic circumstances and the mental health dimension involved. Police continue to probe the sequence of events that led to the alleged crime, while the court proceedings against the accused are expected to continue in the coming days.
