An advocate K Bhagyalakshmi (65) and her NRI son K Phani Mahesh (42) allegedly committed suicide in their apartment in Golalapalem area of the Vishakapatnam city.
Phani Mahesh who is a software engineer in Dallas in the U.S., came home a week ago and was all set to return on Friday evening. He booked an auto rickshaw to the airport.The auto driver left the scene when he realized that fire broke in their apartment. Bhagyalakshmi has been living alone for almost two decades after divorce. The residents of the apartment noticed smoke and informed the police and fire service.

Bhagyalakshmi has two children Phani Mahesh and Mrudula who are settled in the US.Due to visa issues Phani Mahesh’s new born and his wife stayed back in the US.Mrudula was in Chennai along with her daughter when the incident took place.The relatives expressed suspicion over the death as the family did not seem to have any clashes or health issues.

As per the relatives, Bhagyalakhsmi owns a shopping complex in MVP colony which also has a ration depot. She has been insisting the dealer to vacate the premises but he would vacate only on the pretext of she paying him five lakh rupees as good will. He was the first one to know about the incident and informed the relatives. Phani’s body was found in the puja room while Bhagyalakshmi’s body was found in main hall. There were no clues of any gas leakage and short circuit in the flat but the police found kerosene cans. No suicide note has been recovered yet.

Though the reason for this extreme step is unknown, police are investigating the suicide with a suspicion of foul play.