COIMBATORE / TIRUNELVELI: Women’s hostel owner A Jagannathan, who was accused of sexual harassment, committed suicide by jumping into a well in a farmland in Sivalarkulam near Alankulam of Tirunelveli district on Wednesday night.
Jagannathan (45), owner of a women’s hostel in BK Puram in Coimbatore, was booked for allegedly sexually harassing girls in the hostel. In this connection, Peelamedu police were on the lookout for him.
On Thursday morning, he was found dead in a well in a farmland in Ambalathar of Sivalarkulam near Alankulam of Tirunelveli district. The investigation revealed that he had come to Tirunelveli on Wednesday afternoon with the intention of surrendering before the Alankulam magistrate court.
However, as he reached the city late in the evening, he met his lawyer Subash Chandra Bose in Coutrallam. He reportedly went to the farmland — owned by Santhana Mariappan, a client of his lawyer — after the meeting and consumed alcohol before jumping into the 70-feet well. Water level in the well was at just two feet.
The Alankulam police registered a case and were probing the matter. According to a source, Jagannathan already attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Yaanai Palam at Courtallam but was saved by friends. “After his friends rescued him, Jagannathan allegedly told them that he was saved for a purpose and assured them that he would not attempt suicide again,” the source said.
Police were also investigating if Mariappan, one of the five owners of the land and a habitual offender, had murdered him. Jagannathan had also left a suicide note that mentioned a `4 crore debt and blamed his business rivals for the situation. Police were also inquiring with his lawyer.
Jagannathan’s body was sent to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH) for postmortem examination and later handed over to his family members.Meanwhile, another accused in the case — hostel warden S Punitha — was located near Bengaluru in Karnataka. A special team was headed there to make the arrest.
Note blames it on business rivals
Jagannathan (pic) had also left a suicide note that mentioned a `4 crore debt and blamed his business rivals for the situation. Police were also inquiring with his lawyer. His body was sent to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH) for postmortem examination and later handed over to his family