A 21-year-old man was arrested on Friday, May 3, 2024, for allegedly murdering his mother and grandfather by serving them chicken rice laced with poison.
S. Bhagavathi (21), a third-year engineering student at a private college, had on April 30, purchased chicken rice from a restaurant near the Namakkal Bus Stand and served it to seven family members at his residence in Devarayapuram, Namakkal district. Following the meal, his mother S. Nathiya (41) and grandfather Shanmugam alias Shanmuganathan (67) fell seriously ill and were admitted to Namakkal Government Hospital, where Shanmuganathan passed away on Thursday night (May 2), while Nathiya succumbed on Friday evening (May 3).
In response, the Namakkal district administration sealed the restaurant and sent food samples for laboratory analysis. Subsequently, the Namakkal police filed a case and while interrogating Bhagavathi, found that his statements were inconsistent. Further investigation revealed that Bhagavathi was struggling with drug addiction, and faced with incessant scrutinising by his mother and grandfather into his addiction, allegedly laced the chicken rice with poison and served it to them.
