Mystery surrounding the death of Kannada film actress Hemasri was cleared to some extent on Saturday morning when postmortem report said it was a murder and she was killed with an overdose of chloroform. Though police have not said it, reports also suggested that she could have been raped before the murder. Hemasri who is known to Telugu audience also as she had done some excellent roles in popular serials, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the farm house of former Anantapur corporator and Congress leader Murali on October 9.

Police have taken the farm house employees and the driver of Hemasri into custody and are questioning them. They have questioned Murali also. But Murali said he was no way connected with the murder. He said he was in Bengaluru from October 1 to October 10 and came to know about the murder only through media reports. He said he just knew Hemasri's husband Surendra Babu as he was a member of the All India Balija Association for which the latter was the general secretary. While reports said that Surendra Babu and Murali were business partners, he has denied the reports. He said excepting meeting Surendra in meetings of the association, he did not know either him or his wife. Murali said he had not even gone to their house and asserted that he was ready for any punishment if he was found guilty. Unconfirmed reports said that Murali was also arrested and Hemasri's husband Surendra Babu has already confessed murdering her. Karnataka police have also come to Anantapura and are investigating the case with the help of the local police. The witness of driver Satish and employees of the farm house would be key in unraveling the mystery of the murder.