Man poisons couple over government job

The deceased Karthik, 34, a resident of Surya Narayana Road in Royapuram and his wife, Saranaya, have two sons, aged 7 and 5.  The accused, Velayudham, 46, works as an office assistant, in Kings Institute in Guindy. The police suspect that he could have brought powdered sulphuric acid possibly from his office lab and laced the prasadam with it.

Karthik, an ME degree holder, was working as a professor at a private college in the city and lost his job due to downsizing in July last year.  As he was keen on getting a government job, he met Velayudham through a common friend and paid him Rs 4 lakh to get the job. 

According to the police, Karthik had given the money eight months ago. “As Karthik did not get the job, he kept asking Velayudham to return the money. Finally, on Monday, Velayudham asked the couple to come home and discuss the job. However, he gave them the prasadam saying it was from the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, an officer said.  

When Karthik started feeling nauseous he stopped his wife from eating more of it. Soon, he started vomiting on the road and was rushed to the Stanley Government hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.