CHENNAI: Controversial godman Premananda, convicted and sentenced to a double life term for rape and murder, died at a private hospital here on Monday. He was 59.
Premananda, who was suffering from multiple ailments, had been undergoing treatment at both private and government hospitals since July 2010.
Last week, he was brought to the city from the Cuddalore Central Prison — where he was serving his term — and admitted to the Stanley Medical College Hospital for treatment of “liver attack (sic) due to jaundice,” his lawyer ‘Elephant’ Rajendran told Express.
The self-styled godman was in a comatose condition when he was shifted to a private hospital in Perumbakkam on February 15, he said.
Doctors at the hospital decided to perform a liver transplant on Premananda. But the godman died on Monday, he added.
In a press release, the hospital said the “Sri Lankan spiritual leader, who was awaiting a liver transplant, died around 1.25 pm owing to acute liver distress”.
Rajendran alleged conspiracy, delay and negligence by the police in rendering treatment to Premananda.
Lanka-born Premananda ran an ashram in Viralimalai near Pudukkottai. He was arrested and charged with raping 13 inmates, molesting two and murdering an engineer, Ravi, there.
His case was argued by a battery of advocates, including high-profile lawyer Ram Jethmalani.
In August 1997, he was convicted of rape and murder, and awarded double life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 66.4 lakh by the Pudukkottai District and Sessions Court. In April 2005, the Supreme Court upheld the decision.