DMK's former MP Masthan was murdered, relative arrested

CHENNAI: In a twist to the death of former RS MP D Masthan the police on Friday said that the vice chairman of the state minority commisison did not die due to a heart attack, but was murdered by his relatives over a financial dispute. The police have arrested five men.

Masthan (66) who belongs to the DMK party died on December 22 and initially it was claimed that he died due to a heart attack while travelling in a car.

He was taken to a hospital in Chengalpattu where he was declared dead on arrival.

Masthan's son who noticed injuries on the nose and nail marks on the face later filed a complaint with the Guduvanchery police.

The police registered a case under section 174 and special teams were formed to investigate the case. The police investigation revealed that the Ex MP was murdered by his relatives and friends since he asked to return Rs 15 lakhs which was borrowed from him over the years.

Police said Imran Basha, the son of Masthan's younger brother, was working as a car driver in Masthan. Imran had borrowed money from Masthan over the years and he failed to return it. Since Masthan's son's wedding was scheduled for this month he started to ask Imran to return the money.

Following that Imran Basha on December 21 said to Masthan that he had arranged the money from a financier in Trichy and asked Masthan to come along with him to receive the money.

Later the police investigations revealed that while they were on the way to Trichy, Imran Basha's Cousin Sultan and his friend Nasir accompanied them in the car while Thoufiq Ahamed and Lokeshwaran followed the vehicle by bike.

Police said Basha stopped the car in an abandoned area near Guduvanchery and then Sultan and Nasir who were sitting on the rear seats of the vehicle suffocated Masthan to death by covering his nose and mouth.

After Mashthan died they took him to the hospital and staged a drama that he suffered a heart attack and died inside the car.

The police Friday arrested all five of them and seized the car and bike that was used by the suspects.

Masthan was AIADMK RS MP from the year 1995 to 2001.