Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal dies in Chennai

CHENNAI: Founder of Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants P Rajagopal, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2001 murder of Prince Santhakumar, died in a private hospital here on Thursday morning, doctors and police said. He was 72.
On July 9, Rajagopal surrendered before a sessions court in Chennai to serve a life sentence as the Supreme Court had rejected his plea seeking more time to surrender.

Rajagopal, who was brought to the premises of the trial court in an ambulance, was sent to Stanley Medical College Hospital .
"He came to Stanley Medical College Hospital in a very critical condition. He was admitted to the intensive care unit," said a senior doctor who attended on him. His condition continued to remain critical.
On Tuesday, the Madras high court permitted to admit him to a private hospital here. A division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice M Nirmal Kumar granted the relief on a habeas corpus plea moved by his son, R Saravanan. Saravanan submitted that his father's condition had worsened after he had been admitted to Stanley Hospital as the doctors had changed his medication and treatment.

After the relief from the high court, Rajagopal was admitted to a Vijaya Health Centre, a unit of Vijaya Hospitals, in Vadapalani where he died around 10.40am on Thursday.
"He had multiple problems when he came here. He was on life support, including ventilator. Despite aggressive treatment, he passed away," said a senior doctor.