An undertrial prisoner who attempted to commit suicide by hanging inside the Central Prison in Puzhal on Wednesday, died in the afternoon. The 29-year-old man was brought to the prison only on Tuesday night, after he was arrested by the Anna Nagar police on charges of killing a 47-year-old woman.
The deceased, S. Ilayaraja, was a driver with the Fire and Rescue Services in Coimbatore. After the fifth metropolitan magistrate remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days, he was brought to the Central Prison and lodged in cell no. 24 of the Medical Observation Block, also called A Class, where government servants are lodged.
Sources said Ilayaraja went to the bathroom with a torn towel around noon. As he did not come out for a long time, a prison warder knocked on the door. When there was no response, the warder sought help from other prisoners — a Russian and an Iranian. The bathroom door was broken down, and they found Ilayaraja hanging from a roof panel with the torn towel. He was immediately taken to the prison hospital and administered first aid. Later, he was rushed to the Government Stanley Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Upset with victim’s affair
Police said Ilayaraja had a six-year-long extra marital affair with Nivetha, a teacher in Pollachi. Nivetha, a divorcee, also supported him financially during their courtship. Later, Ilayaraja married another woman, and Nivetha began to avoid him, and soon developed an intimate relationship with Ganapathy of Kolathur over social media. Sources added that Ilayaraja became frustrated as she continued to ignore him. He reportedly brought Nivetha in his car from Coimbatore to Chennai to meet Ganapathy, forcing her to break off with him.
A senior police officer said that on Monday, Ganapathy met them on New Avadi Road, Kilpauk, and Ilayaraja remained at a distance watching them as they spoke for two hours. Then, Nivetha rode off with Ganapathy on his bike. Angered, Ilayaraja chased them in his car and rammed the bike.
Nivetha was lying in a pool of blood while Ganapathy escaped with minor injuries. As passersby gathered, he pretended as if he was not involved in the incident and came forward to render assistance to the injured. He also took her in his vehicle to the Government Kilpauk Hospital where she was declared brought dead. Ilayaraja was arrested on Tuesday morning.
People in need of counselling can contact the State Health department’s helpline - 104. Chennai-based Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre can be contacted at 044-24640050.
