Palace photo-shoot: Couple, lensman still untraceable

Mysuru: The internal inquiry into the photo-shoot of Adithya and Navyatha in the Durbar Hall at Amba Vilas Palace, a restricted area, may be delayed as the groom's father and retired IAS officer BG Nandakumar as well as photographer Venkatesh are untraceable.

Cops tried to contact the the couple, their family members and the photographer but their phones have been switched off. With no option left, city cops have sent their officers to Bengaluru and Hyderabad to summon them for an inquiry. Nandakumar is a resident of Benglauru, while Venkatesh, the photographer attached to Photriya, a photography agency offering services for special photo-shoots for occasion like pre-wedding, lives in Hyderabad.

Nandakumar was principal secretary in the Kannada and culture department and he retired in September 2015. While Adithya is Nandakumar's son, Navyatha is said to be daughter of an IPS officer from AP, a source claimed, who said the photoshoot, both inside and outside the palace, was done either on February 6 or 16, 2016.

Police commissioner B Dayananda confirmed that police teams have been sent to summon the parents of the couple and photographer Notices haven't been served to them, he said.

City police are checking when and how the shoot was done and who allowed them into the palace with cameras, which are prohibited. They're also checking if there was a security breach on the part of City Armed Reserved personnel guarding the palace or the couple tresspassed. The inquiry is being done following deputy commissioner C Shikha's written instruction after media organisations reported the incident.

Shikha is ex-officio executive officer of the Mysuru Palace Board. The board has full-time and permanent deputy director in TS Subramanya. City Armed Reserved force ACP V Shylendra is in-charge of palace security and he took charge two weeks ago. Shylendra, the inquiry officer, has questioned over two dozen staff attached to the Palace Board and policemen too. Once police get the version of the couple, their parents or the photographer, they're likely to question officers or employees named by them.

"Officers have been asked to paste notices on the walls of their homes or offices if they're not available during their visit," an officer said, adding that a clear picture would emerge by Wednesday.