Saravana Bhavan Rajagopal passes away: Timeline of events

P Rajagopal (72), owner of Saravana Bhavan, a prominent south Indian food chain passed away in Chennai Vijaya hospital around 10.30 am on Thursday following a massive heart attack. The popular food chain founder was found guilty in 2004 for a murder case that was committed in 2001. Rajagopal, who was married with two wives already, made approval for the third marriage with Jeevajothi as per astrologer’s advice. Jeevajothi was daughter of one of his employers and was married already. Rajagopal believed the astrologer’s presupposition of becoming one of the richest in the country if he weds Jeevajothi. However, Rajagopal’s life started to take turn when he was found guilty in the murder of Jeevajothi’s husband.

October, 2001: Jeevajothi and her husband were kidnapped.

31 October, 2001: The body of Jeevajothi’s husband Santhakumar was found inside the Tiger Chola forests in Kodaikanal by the forest officials. His post-mortem report stated the cause of his death as asphyxiation due to throttling.

2004: Rajagopal was found guilty of the murder by sessions court and sentenced to prison for 10 years.

2009: Rajagopal challenged the court verdict in Madras High Court but was given life imprisonment.

March 2019: Rajagopal appealed against the verdict in Supreme Court, that upheld the Madras HC order.

July 7, 2019: Rajagopal was ordered to surrender to the police. But, he appealed for the extension of time as his health conditions began to detoriate. But the Supreme Court rejected his appeal.

July 9, 2019: Rajagopal surrendered as per the court’s order to serve lifetime imprisonment.

July 15, 2019: Rajagopal suffered a heart attack in Stanley Government hospital. His aides requested for the court to transfer him to a private hospital.

July 16, 2019: He was shifted to Vijaya hospital (private) from Stanley Government hospital after getting approval from the court.

July 18, 2019: Rajagopal passed away in Chennai Vijaya hospital, after a massive heart attack.