M. Natarajan, husband of V.K. Sasikala, died early on Tuesday. He was 75.
Mr. Natarajan, who had been ailing for a while and underwent a joint kidney and liver transplant last November, was admitted to the Gleneagles Global Hospital on Saturday, reportedly with a severe chest infection. His condition deteriorated and he died in the early hours of Tuesday, the hospital said.
Closely involved with the pro-Tamil and Dravidian movement in the state, it was when he was serving as a Public Relations Officer for the Tamil Nadu that he and his wife got an opportunity to interact with former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The couple went on to form a strong bond with her, even moving into her Poes Garden residence with her. The relationship was to sour later and Sasikala announced her estrangement with her husband, a promise she made to Jayalalithaa.
Sasikala was granted parole of 15 days from the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru. She reached Thanjavur for the last rites.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, according to sources.
