The death of his wife four years ago under mysterious circumstances has returned to haunt Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa [Images], with a local court ordering a fresh probe.

The order by a magistrate came on a petition filed by advocate Sheshadri, alleging that the evidence was fabricated and that there had been a conspiracy to murder Mythra Devi.

Yeddyurappa was the leader of the Opposition at the time of the incident.

The police said that as per the post-mortem report, Mythra Devi had died due to drowning on October 16, 2004.

Mythra was found dead in an eight-feet deep water tank in front of the house of the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, and was believed to have died due to drowning, after she accidentally slipped into it.

The police had noted that the deceased was five feet and five inches tall while the water level in the tank at the time of drowning was four feet.

Sheshadri in his petition alleged that seven persons, including Yeddyurappa, his three children and two servants, were responsible for her death.