Chennai: Days after surrender, Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal dies
P Rajagopal, the founder of Saravana Bhavan, died on Thursday in Chennai, days after he surrendered to complete his life sentence. Notably, the 72-year-old was convicted of murdering his employee in 2001. Popularly known as "Dosa King", Rajagopal committed the crime so that he could marry his employee's wife. After he was jailed, his health deteriorated and he breathed his last today. Here's more.
Marriage, obsession, and murder: Looking at Rajagopal's sensational case
Rajagopal, who earned respect in the industry for building a chain of restaurants, became obsessed with a woman named Jeevajothi, the daughter of his employee Ramasamy. In 1999, Jeevajothi married a man named Shantakumar, against her family's wishes. However, little did the couple know that her family might not be the only problem they would have to deal with.
Rajagopal wanted to marry Jeevajothi on astrologer's advice, she refused
The newly-married couple sought Rajagopal's help to start a travel agency, but the latter had other things on his mind. Rajagopal, who had two wives, wanted to marry Jeevajothi on the advice of an astrologer. Though she rebuffed him, he didn't take no for an answer. Instead, he kept pursuing her and even told Shantakumar about his intentions.
When couple wanted to leave Chennai, Rajagopal planned Shantakumar's murder
Rajagopal kept pestering Jeevajothi, and at one point said her husband should undergo an HIV test. Distressed with his actions, the couple decided to leave Chennai. But, Rajagopal hired goons to beat Shantakumar. In October 2001, Shantakumar was abducted and murdered. His body was found in Kodaikanal by forest officials. Subsequently, a case was registered under relevant sections of IPC.
Sessions court gave Rajagopal 10 years of punishment
In 2004, a sessions court sentenced Rajagopal to ten years of rigorous punishment, a verdict he challenged. In 2009, Madras HC sentenced him to life imprisonment, and the Supreme Court upheld it. Rajagopal appeared in SC with an oxygen mask, requesting that his sentence should be delayed on health grounds. When his plea was rejected, he surrendered before Chennai sessions court on July 8.
As his health deteriorated, Rajagopal was shifted to private hospital
However, after Rajagopal's health worsened, his son moved a plea in Madras HC. Thereafter, a bench comprising justices MM Sundresh and M Nirmal Kumar directed prison authorities to shift Rajagopal to Vijaya Hospital. "Considering the medical reports and the condition of the detenu, we are inclined to permit the transfer," the bench said. The bench underlined that the petitioner would bear the treatment's cost.
