The body of a 53-year-old convict was found floating in a water tank in the prison 1 complex at Puzhal Prison early on Tuesday. The police are investigating whether the death was a murder or suicide.
The Puzhal Prison police identified the deceased as Ashok Raj, a resident of Canal Bank Road, Adyar, who was arrested following the murder of his wife and young son in 2011. On September 10, Raj was awarded a double life sentence by a city court in connection with the killings. He was then shifted from prison 2 to prison 1, a facility for convicted felons.
“On Monday evening, jail authorities conducted a roll-call and realised that Raj was missing. A search for him throughout the prison complex was in vain. On Tuesday morning, his body surfaced as staff pumped water into the 10 ft water tank,” said an investigating officer attached to the Puzhal police.
Jail authorities recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem to Government Royapettah Hospital.
Raj was last seen returning to his cell after attending psychology classes in prison on Monday afternoon. His fellow inmates told investigators that he was depressed over being convicted as he didn’t have any family. His elder son had drowned a few years ago, sources added.
The post-mortem will be carried on Wednesday morning. A case of ‘death under custody’ has been registered.