Classical singer Nithyasree’s husband Mahadevan (45) committed suicide on Thursday afternoon by jumping into the Adyar River after parking his car on the Kotturpuram bridge. Police officers attributed it to depression.
According to police, around 12.15 pm, Mahadevan sat behind the wheel of his luxury sedan and started driving with his driver Suresh alongside. Midway through the bridge, he pulled over and parked the car. After both alighted, Mahadevan locked the car, put the key in his pocket, walked across the sidewalk to the parapet wall and jumped into the Adyar River around 12.30 pm, police said. It all happened in a flash and the driver couldn’t respond.
While passersby alerted police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel at Kotturpuram, driver Suresh called up Nithyasree, who rushed to the spot. As she was sobbing inconsolably, the police advised her to go back. She then left for her home at Vellaiyan Street in Kotturpuram.
Around 1.30 pm, Mahadevan’s body was fished out of the river and taken to a private hospital where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’. Kotturpuram Police Inspector N Elangovan told Express that Mahadevan was being treated for his depression at a multi-specialty hospital for the past five years.
“Mahadevan’s mental condition worsened after his mother Shanthi passed away in April. When he stopped the car in the middle of the bridge, his driver thought Mahadevan wanted to take a leak, but he jumped into the river,” he said. Nithyasree is the grand-daughter of legendary Carnatic vocalist D K Pattammal. Mahadevan was an engineer with a private firm. They have two daughters — Thejasree (8) and Thanujasree (6).