Woman, two daughters commit suicide at MGR Nagar in Chennai

Police suspect that the women, Usha Rani, Kalaivani and Vijayalakshmi, were depressed after Rani’s husband, Devarajan, was arrested by the Cuddalore police a few days ago.

A 55-year-old woman and her two daughters ended their lives by hanging in their house in M.G.R. Nagar on Friday night.

Police suspect that the women, Usha Rani (55), Kalaivani (29) and Vijayalakshmi (27), were depressed after Rani’s husband, Devarajan, was arrested by the Cuddalore police a few days ago.

The family, which also includes Rani’s son Sivabalan, moved to Chennai a few months ago and was staying at Alagiri Nagarar.

Job scam

Devarajan, a retired official of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, was a native of Chidambaram and during his stay there, was reportedly involved with an NGO.

Police officers said that Devarajan and a couple of others had cheated a few people of their money by promising them jobs.

A few days ago, a police team from Cuddalore came to Chennai and arrested Devarajan.

“It is said that Usha Rani was also named as an accused. We are looking into the issue. We suspect that she and her daughters committed suicide as they were saddened by her husband’s arrest,” said a police officer attached to the M.G.R. Nagar police station.

Sivabalan, who was not well, was sleeping in the house.

One of their relatives went to a room on the terrace on Saturday morning and spotted the three bodies. Neighbours rushed to the house and alerted the police. The bodies have been sent to Government Royapettah Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline can be reached at 044 24640050 and the State helpline at 104.