TIRUPATI: Industrialist S Sivamoorthy (47), a close relative of former finance minister P Chidambaram, who went missing on Monday, was found dead in Krishnagiri on Wednesday. Believed to have been murdered in a ransom plot that went awry, his body was recovered from near Kelavarapalli dam at Hosur. Three men were held in connection to the case.
Sivamoorthy was married to Durga Vaishnavi, daughter of Nalini Chidambaram’s sister Padmini. He ran a knitwear export company in Uthukuli road near Karumarampalayam.
According to police, Sivamoorthy left for Coimbatore by car on Monday. Though he was expected to return the same day, there was no sign of him on Tuesday and his father Chinnasamy filed a complaint at the Tirupur North police station. The same night, based on a tip-off, police arrested Vimal (35), Manibharathi (22) and Gowtham (22) near Ambur and interrogated them. Police said the trio confessed to having murdered Sivamoorthy.
A senior police official said Sivamoorthy had a business relationship with Vimal. Vimal took Sivamoorthy out on the pretext of introducing him to a buyer. They were joined by Mani, Gowtham and one Moorthy (37) at Kurundhamalai near Annur.
Their plan had been to kidnap Sivamoorthy for ransom. But, when Sivamoorthy raised alarm, they strangulated him. They put his body in his car and drove around on Monday, eventually dumping the body at Kelavarapalli dam. Vimal, Mani and Gowtham were caught on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, by Ambur police. Tirupur police took them into custody.
Sivamoorthy and Durga had been married 10 years and lived in Tirupur with a son and daughter. Durga lost her father at a young age and grew up at Nalini’s house. Padmini died last year.