Handloom minister’s driver dies, family alleges foul play

Handlooms minister OS Manian’s official driver V Soundararajan (37), who developed a chest pain at the minister’s house on Wednesday morning, died on the way to the hospital. Sources said he was taken as a pillion rider on a two-wheeler, from which he reportedly fell down and sustained injuries.

However, Sundararajan’s kin have filed a complaint at Choolaimedu police station alleging that the minister’s aides assaulted him, resulting in his death. A case of suspicious death has been registered. 

Police sources said that Soundararajan, a resident of Saurashtra Nagar in Choolaimedu, complained of chest pain after reporting to duty on Wednesday morning. A policeman there took Soundararajan in his two-wheeler to the Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital. However, on the way, Soundararajan became unconscious and fell off the bike. 

By the time he was finally brought to the hospital, doctors there declared him brought dead. 

Soundararajan’s body was first taken to his house in Choolaimedu. On hearing about his driver’s death, minister Manian visited his house to pay condolences, but his kin did not allow him inside. 

Manian denied the allegations that his aides had assaulted Soundararajan, and claimed he gave Rs 4,000 to Soundararajan soon after he complained of chest pain, and advised him to visit the nearby hospital at the earliest.