Prime accused in murder case of 6 of a family dies in Salem

Police and prison officials said that Sivaguru, a remand prisoner, was suffering from the two complications for a long time and was undergoing treatment over the last six years. 

Sivaguru, a DMK functionary and the former vice president of Dasanaickenpatti panchayat, was residing in a house in Dasanaickenpatti. Sivaguru’s parents, Kuppuraj and Chandrammal, were living in the same locality with their another son Rathinam. There was a dispute between Sivaguru and other family members over sharing a piece of land measuring six acres, which was owned by Kuppuraj. 

On August 12, 2010, an unidentified gang hacked Kuppuraj, Chandrammal, Rathinam’s wife Santhakumari, 45, and Rathinam’s son Gouthaman (18) to death in their house. Even after the crime, the gang waited in the same house and murdered Rathinam and his daughter Vigneswari (17), when they returned from the temple.

A few days after the incident, Sivaguru surrendered before a court in Chennai. The case was subsequently transferred to CB-CID, which arrested eight persons, including Sivaguru’s wife Mala, his 17-year- old son, daughter Yuvapriya (20), son-in- law Rajini (28), Parapatti K. Sureshkumar (nephew of DMK strongman Veerapandi S Arumugam), Senthilkumar, Sampath and Sekar.

Later Parapatti Sureshkumar’s name was discharged from the case by the Madras High Court. Since Sivaguru’s bail petition was dismissed by the court four times, he was in the Salem central prison for the last six years.

A prison officer said meanwhile, his condition worsened and he was admitted to the Salem Government Hospital for treatment on September 16. However, he breathed his last on Tuesday morning without responding to treatment. 

A woman and her husband was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly murdering her paramour, a tea estate labourer. 

Police said, S Ravi (37) of Kuli Vayal in Pandalur was reported missing since October 4. When his relatives searched for him in various places, they found his body with injuries in a tea estate the next day. 

Initially, there was suspicion that he could have been killed in a wild animal attack. Acting on a complaint, the Nilgiris police formed three special teams and commenced investigations. However, the post mortem revealed that it was a case of murder.

After detailed inquiries, the special teams managed to crack the case in 14 days. Deputy Superintendent of Police of Devala sub division S. Sathivel, who led the special teams, said the MM Poongodi (45), wife of Murudaiyan (54) a daily wage labourer of Kulivayal had a relationship with S Ravi. 

On October 4, Murudaiyan saw his wife talking with Ravi. Enraged by this, the daily wager confronted Ravi and questioned him over the reason for visit to the house. 

There was a heated argument between the two and in a fit of rage Murudaiyan along with his wife attacked Ravi with rods, clubs and also threw hot water on him. Ravi succumbed to the injuries on the spot. In a bid to escape police action, the couple dumped the body in a nearby tea estate. 

During interrogations, the couple admitted to the murder. Cherampadi police arrested the couple and sent them to Coimbatore prison.