Three dead after being given poison in guise of Covid cure pills, 2 arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Erode, Jun 28, 2021: In a shocking incident, three members of a family died in Tamil Nadu’s Erode after they were given poison in the guise of Covid-19 cure pills. Police have arrested two people in connection with the case.

 

Investigations revealed that the main accused, R Kalyanasundaram (43) of Keezhvani village, had borrowed Rs 15 lakh from Karuppanakounder (72) of Karungoundanvalasu village a few months ago. Unable to repay the loan and facing pressure from the moneylender, Kalyanasundaram decided to get rid of Karuppanakounder and his family.

Kalyanasundaram sought the help of Sabari (25), who donned the role of a Health Department worker to pass on the poison pills to the family of four.

Armed with the accoutrements of a healthcare worker, including a temperature gun and pulse oximeter, Sabari visited Karuppanakounder’s house on June 26. He enquired whether Karuppanakounder and his family had fever or cough, then gave them some pills by saying they would boost immunity against Covid-19.

Karuppanakounder, his wife Mallika, daughter Deepa and domestic help Kuppal took the pills and collapsed. Neighbours found the four unconscious and rushed them to hospitalMallika died on the way to the hospital; Deepa and Kuppal died the next day. Karuppanakounder himself is in critical condition.Police arrested Kalyanasundaram and Sabari on Sunday night after finding discrepancies in their statements.

Erode DSP Selvaraj told India Today, "Kalyanasundaram had sent Sabari to Karuppanakounder’s residence under the false pretext of health worker and made them take poison pills calling them cure for Covid-19, murdering three people."

The duo were produced before the Judicial Magistrate of Perundurai sub-court, who remanded them to 15 days judicial custody.

Courtesy:India Today