De-addiction centre owner, 3 others held for inmate death

The arrested have been identified as owner of God Helping Foundation, R Ravi alias Veeraiyan (45), a native of Chelliammal Nagar, Nerkundram, M Dillibabu (34) of Kavarapettai, Tiruvallur, S Saran (26) of Baktheswarar Nagar, Bangalore and M Manikandan (23) of Vanniyar Street, Padi.

Police said Ravi and his staff members assaulted P Subramani (37), a resident of Ayyavupuram, K K Nagar, when he behaved in an unruly manner at the centre. After he fell unconscious, they got him admitted to a hospital, claiming that he slipped and fell inside the toilet. Subramani later died at the hospital. His wife had lodged a complaint with the Mangadu police alleging that the de-addiction centre staff had beaten him to death. Following the death of Subramani, Mangadu police had first registered a case of suspicious death. His post-mortem report revealed that nine of his rib bones were broken and he had numerous internal injuries. Based on the post-mortem report, police converted the case to that of murder and started investigation.

Police said Subramani was an alcoholic and his family had admitted him at God Help Foundation at Moulivakkam. “The patient was very unruly and did not listen to the staff at the centre. When they could not control him, all the four accused got together and assaulted Subramani, resulting in his death,” Mangadu inspector in-charge, Duraimurugan told DTNext.

Police said the de-addiction centre’s licence had expired last year and a renewal application is still pending. All the arrested were produced in court and later remanded in judicial custody.

Dr. Anita Rao, Director, Medical Services, TT Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation (TTK Hospital), said that time and again such incidents took place in de-addiction centres operating without licences. She said, “More often, those from the middle or lower income groups seek treatment at these centres without verifying the background.” However, Dr Anita pointed out that most of the unlicensed ones do not have trained staff. 

“They operate in a small room with one toilet attached, where 50 inmates are cooped up,” she added. Experts also said that the authorities need to crack the whip on the ones violating norms. 

“These centres are run by those who once worked at a de-addiction centre. They are of the false notion that they can cure addiction through violent means, to restrict them from turning to alcohol again. That’s not true at all,” said Dr R Sathianathan, a city-based psychiatrist, who added that only a death brought to light such centres that operated secretively.