Couple from Erode ends life by consuming poison in police vehicle

The police secured them based on complaints from their respective partners and tried to send them back to their hometown, said sources.

The deceased were identified as R Jayakumar (42) and G Kavitha Mani (32). Jayakumar, who was already married, developed a relationship with Kavitha, wife of another man from their village Puliampatti in Erode district. They were working together in a garment company. A few days ago, the two eloped and were staying in a rented house in Nerkundram.

On July 23, their families lodged missing complaints at Nambiyur police station and pasted posters in the locality. Recently, they came to know that the couple was staying in Nerkundram and informed the police.

Following this, the police personnel from Erode reached Chennai and secured Jayakumar and Kavitha Mani. However, they fainted when they were being taken to their hometown in a police vehicle on Sunday morning. They were rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, but were declared dead on arrival. The Koyambedu police have registered a casein this regard.

The police suspect that the couple might have consumed poison in the vehicle out of fear that they would be humiliated by their family members. Kavitha Mani had hidden two pesticide bottles and gave one to Jayakumar in the police vehicle, said the Koyambedu police. Further investigation is on.