Woman’s suicide case handed to CB-CID as kin allege foul play

Chennai: DGP C Sylendra Babu has ordered the transfer of the suicide case of 20-year-old college student, who allegedly ended her life after consuming pesticide at an ashram in Tiruvallur district last month, to CB-CID.R Hemamalini was staying in the ashram under the care of self-styled godman Munusamy, 47, who had been treating her for various ailments for more than a year. On February 15, R Hemamalini, who was doing her BSc computer science, began to vomit at the ashram and her aunt told Munusamy that she needed to be hospitalised. Munusamy arranged for an autorickshaw after a couple of hours. However she died at Tiruvallur government hospital where doctors said she had consumed pesticide.Munusamy has an ashram at Vellathukottai near Poondi and claims to cure ailments with pujas and herbal concoctions. Her parents had brought Hemamalini to the ashram hoping for a cure to various chronic ailments she had such as stomach and neck aches. She had been staying there ever since. Munusamy refused to send her home even when offline classes began recently, police said.Munusamy told her parents that she had some ‘dosham’ and that pujas had to be done during no moon and full moon days. She was also forced to attend late night pujas, her parents told police. Her death sparked protests. Her relatives and parents alleged foul play and demanded a detailed probe.Soon after her death, police conducted inquiries with the self-styled godman and later let him off citing lack of evidence against him. The family members and relatives submitted a petition at the CM’s office demanding to transfer the case to CB-CID.