Min’s PA, driver die in accident on way back after seeing him off

Trichy: Health minister C Vijaya Baskar’s personal assistant and driver were killed in a road accident early on Sunday when they were returning to Pudukottai after seeing him off at Trichy airport. The deceased were R Venkatesh, 31, and driver P Selvam, 39.

Venkatesh has been personal assistant to the minister for eight years and was also the district president of the AIADMK’s information technology (IT) wing. Selvam who was employed as driver with the health department was at the wheel. Police said a total of seven people including the duo were returning to Pudukottai.

Five of them got down at Illuppur but they asked Venkatesh to stay back till morning and proceed. However Venkatesh decided to go home at Parambur and proceeded with Selvam driving the jeep belonging to the public health department.

The accident happened as they were approaching Veera Perumalpatti village near Illuppur when the vehicle lost control and hit a roadside tamarind tree. Police said the duo sustained multiple injuries and died on the spot. Venkatesh is survived by wife and a one-year old child. His mother R Indira Ammal was recently elected as panchayat president of Parambur. Posters thanking people for her victory on a margin of over 1,000 votes were kept in the jeep to be pasted in his village. Chocolates packets that were to be distributed to the people on Sunday were found shattered around the jeep.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami condoled the death of the duo and asked Vijaya Baskar to convey the same to the family of the bereaved. On hearing about the news, Vijaya Baskar returned to Pudukottai in the morning. The minister broke down while meeting the family members of Venkatesh. Annavasal police have filed a case in this regard and are investigating. Incidentally, Venkatesh was among those questioned by Income Tax officials in 2017 when raids were carried out at the residence of Vijaya Baskar.