Kannada actress dies after fat reduction operation

BENGALURU: A 21-year-old budding television actress who underwent liposuction, a fat reduction procedure, died at a private facility here on Monday. The deceased, Chethana Raj, has acted in the Kannada serials “Geetha” and “Doresani”.

Chethana got herself admitted to Dr Shetty’s Cosmetic Centre in Rajajinagar on Monday morning. Around 6 pm, she reportedly developed complications. The hospital called up her parents who rushed her to another hospital with an ICU facility. Doctors at the second hospital found no pulse and declared her “brought dead” around 7 pm. Police have registered a case of unnatural death based on a complaint filed by Chethana’s father Varadaraju, a businessman. “The victim’s father has alleged medical negligence by the cosmetic centre. So we have registered a case under CrPC Section 174. Further action will be taken based on the medical and autopsy reports,” DCP (north) Vinayak Patil told TOI.

Police handed the actress’ body to her parents after the postmortem at MS Ramaiah Medical College Hospital. “The autopsy report will reveal the exact cause of death,” an investigating officer said.

Chethana’s grandmother, Narayanamma, said that after Chethana completed her graduation the family wanted her to get married. “But she refused, saying she wanted to act in Kannada films. She asked us for Rs 1.5 lakh to undergo the fat reduction surgery. We did not encourage her to have the surgery as she was healthy and not fat,” said Narayanamma. However, Chethana told her family that she would go ahead with the surgery with help from friends.

Varadaraju alleged that the hospital did the surgery without the consent of her family members.

Chethana had moved into a PG accommodation at Rajarajeshwarinagar four months ago. She arranged money for the procedure from her earnings and paid the cosmetic centre Rs 92,000. “We have filed a complaint against the hospital and police have assured legal action against them,” Varadaraju said.

When TOI reached out to the hospital, they refused comment. On Tuesday evening, the health department asked the hospital to submit a report on the incident.