Maid dies in police custody

The deceased, Mariammal, a native of Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, was arrested from her hometown by a special team following a complaint by Ramesh Kumar, an administration official of Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), who resided at the Kalpakkam township.

Mariammal has been working as a housemaid in and around Chengalpattu, before Ramesh Kumar hired her through an agency a month ago. However, she stopped coming to work since

January 4, after just a fortnight of joining the job, police said.

According to police, though Mariammal had left the job about 10 days ago, the family realised only later that the gold was missing. Police picked her up based on the complaint.

Though she initially denied the allegation that she stole the jewels from the house, Mariammal admitted to the crime, claimed local police, adding that the jewels were subsequently retrieved from a pawn shop in Tambaram.

When they were returning from Tambaram, Mariammal complained of chest pain near Thiruporur, claimed police officials. She was brought back to the station for remand procedure on Sunday night, they added.

However, sources alleged when she fell unconscious, she was rushed to a private clinic nearby. With her pulse remaining low, the doctors there reportedly referred her to a bigger facility.

Mariammal was eventually admitted to Chettinad Health City in Kelambakkam, where she died after an hour without responding to treatment.

Her relatives in Rajapalayam have been informed of her death and they are expected to be in Chengalpattu for post-mortem examination. Police said that Mariammal had separated from her husband and was staying alone in Chengalpattu.