Puneeth Rajkumar's family members attended the award ceremony. The Chief Minister presented the prestigious award to the late actor's wife Ashwini Revanth.

Bengaluru Oct 31 PTI Kannada film star Puneeth Rajkumar was laid to rest with full state honours on Sunday morning at the Kanteerava studio here next to his parents Considered the Kannada cinemas reigning star Puneeth youngest of the five children of thespian and matinee idol Dr Rajkumar passed away at the age of 46 after suffering a cardiac arrest on Friday The final journey of the actors mortal remains began at about 530 AM from Kanteerava Stadium where it was kept since Friday evening for thousands of fans and well-wishers to pay their last respects to Kanteerava studio the final resting place covering a distance of about 13 km The mortal remains reached the studio at about 630 AM Puneeth was laid to rest in the early morning hours much ahead of the schedule of 10 am According to an official government release due to security reasons with the consent of the family members Puneeths last rites were performed much before the scheduled time Several political dignitaries including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai several of his cabinet colleagues former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa and Siddaramaiah state Congress chief D K Shivakumar host of film personalities and members of Rajkumar family were among those who paid their last respects to the departed actor Bommai who had seen Puneeth since his childhood became emotional and was seen kissing his forehead before the last rites Due to security reasons and space constrains at the studio access to last rites was restricted to select dignitaries and family members Puneeth was accorded full state honours as the police band played the national anthem and police personnel fired three rounds in the air followed by two minutes of silence as a mark of respect The national tri-colour that was wrapped on Puneeths body was then handed over to his wife Ashwini Revanth by Chief Minister Bommai Following the actors death the state government had announced that his last rites will be conducted with state honours at Dr Rajkumar Punyabhoomi in Kanteerava Studio next to his father and mother The last rites were performed according to Ediga traditions by Puneeths nephew and actor Raghavendra Rajkumars eldest son Vinay Rajkumar Puneeths wife Ashwini Revanth and daughters Drithi and Vanditha his elder brothers Shivarajkumar Raghavendra Rajkumar and host of family members paid a tearful tearful adieu to their beloved Though the final journey and last rites took place in the early morning hundreds of his fans had gathered in front of Kanteerava studio and on the procession route to say their final good bye Thousands of grieving fans had flocked to the citys Kanteerava stadium since Friday evening from different parts of the state to pay their last respects to their favourite actor PTI KSU SS SS

Bengaluru Oct 29 PTI Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday appealed for peace as he condoled the death of Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar and said the government will be making all the necessary arrangements for public to pay last respects to their favourite star My appeal to the people of Karnataka is when we lose such a great actor it is natural that it will cause pain but we should not become emotional and lose patience We should maintain peace By giving him Puneeth a peaceful send off we will have to pay rightful respect to him Bommai said Speaking to reporters here he requested cooperation from everyone in maintaining peace and to see to it that no untoward incidents take place We will be making all arrangements at the Kanteerava Stadium for the public to pay last respects for the entire day tomorrow So people should pay their last respects peacefully I request his fans with folded hands to maintain peace he said adding that Puneeth Rajkumar will be accorded government honour and the government will go by the familys decision on final rites and the place for it Puneeth Rajkumar passed away after a heart attack earlier today He was 46 and is survived by wife Ashwini Revanth and daughters Drithi and Vanditha The CMs request for peace comes in the backdrop of the violence that took place in the city following the death of Puneeths father and Kannada thespian Rajkumar in 2006 Noting that Puneeth Rajkumar had complained of tiredness after his morning activities Bommai said his family doctor was consulted who had referred him to Vikram Hospital as the heart condition was critical and despite all attempts by the Doctors to revive him at the hospital we could not save him In Puneeth Rajkumar Karnataka has lost a great actor who has made great achievements at a very young age His whole family is in deep sorrow the entire people of Karnataka are sad he said Calling Puneeth Rajkumar a youth icon the Chief Minister said its ironic that the actor had spoken to him over phone on Thursday and an appointment was fixed for meeting today regarding inauguration of his website on November 1 I had asked him to come today for the meeting but fate has taken him elsewhere I could not meet him It is really shocking Great loss to the cultural world The cinema world has not only lost a leading actor but a person with leadership qualities His personality and conduct was humble like his father Dr Rajkumar and was a role model for others he said as he recalled his long association with the Rajkumar family Recollecting the time he spent with Puneeth Rajkumar and family recently Bommai said he had seen Appu as Puneeth Rajkumar is popularly known as a kid to what he has grown up to today He had a great future but fate has played its game it is cruel His death has caused irreparable loss and pain The family is completely shattered PTI KSU RS ROH ROH