P. Rajagopal (businessman): Difference between revisions
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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After surrendering on 9 July 2019 to serve his life sentence, Rajagopal had a heart attack on 13 July 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/saravana-bhavan-founder-p-rajagopal-critical-on-ventilator-1569941-2019-07-16 | title=Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal critical, on ventilator | journal=India Today | first=Lokpria | last=Vasudevan | date=16 July 2019 | accessdate=18 July 2019}}</ref> The [[Madras High Court]] granted permission to transfer him from the prison ward of [[Stanley Medical College|Stanley Medical College Hospital]] to Vijaya Hospital in Chennai, where |
After surrendering on 9 July 2019 to serve his life sentence, Rajagopal had a heart attack on 13 July 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/saravana-bhavan-founder-p-rajagopal-critical-on-ventilator-1569941-2019-07-16 | title=Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal critical, on ventilator | journal=India Today | first=Lokpria | last=Vasudevan | date=16 July 2019 | accessdate=18 July 2019}}</ref> The [[Madras High Court]] granted permission to transfer him from the prison ward of [[Stanley Medical College|Stanley Medical College Hospital]] to Vijaya Hospital in Chennai, where the perverted rapist and murderer died on the morning of 18 July 2019.<ref name="death1">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/saravana-bhawan-founder-p-rajagopal-passes-away-after-heart-attack-in-chennai/articleshow/70272161.cms|title=Saravana Bhawan founder P Rajagopal passes away after heart attack in Chennai,India|journal=The Economic Times|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=18 July 2019}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 10:50, 18 July 2019
P. Rajagopal | |
|---|---|
 Rajagopal with his sons, 2010 | |
| Born | 1947 |
| Died | 18 July 2019 (aged 71–72)[1] |
| Occupation | Founder of Saravana Bhavan |
| Children | 2 sons[2] |
P. Rajagopal (Tamil: பி.ராஜகோபால்; 1947 – 18 July 2019) was the founder of the Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants. Born in rural Tamil Nadu into a poor family of farmers, and with hardly any education, Rajagopal prospered as a businessman and built a popular restaurant chain which is now spread across the world. In later life, he was convicted for a murder and began serving his life sentence in July 2019.
Career
Rajagopal was born in Punnaiyadi, a tiny village in Tuticorin District. He was the son of a farmer who plied onion wholesale trade. His family, which belongs to the Nadar caste of farmers, was so poor and backward that even Rajgopal's birthday was not recorded and what is known is only that he was born in 1947. In 1973, a few years after he came to Chennai, he started a general provisions store in K K Nagar. In 1981, he started a small hotel in K K Nagar.[3]
Crime
On the advice of an astrologer, he obsessively tried to take Jeevajothi, the daughter of one of his employees, as his third wife, but she was already married and rejected him. He orchestrated multiple threats, beatings and exorcism against her and her family. In 2001, after one attempted murder, he successfully orchestrated the murder of her husband Santhakumar. He was sentenced to life for the murder.[4][5][6]
Life sentence for murder
In 2009, the brand value of the restaurant chain plunged after the founder Rajagopal was sentenced to life imprisonment by Madras High Court after being convicted of the murder of employee Prince Santhakumar in 2001 and sexual harassment of Santhakumar's wife Jeevajothi. Jeevajothi was the daughter of one of his assistant managers. Rajagopal wanted to marry Jeevajothi, but she was already married to Santhakumar. Santhakumar was kidnapped and his body was found a few days later near the Western Ghats mountain range.[7][8] Rajagopal was freed on bail for medical reasons while his case was appealed to the Indian Supreme Court. However, a judgement was passed enhancing his prison term to a life sentence, upholding a lower court's conviction.[9]
Supreme Court upholding
On 29 March 2019, the Supreme Court of India upheld Rajagopal's murder conviction and life imprisonment.[4] As per the order of the Supreme Court, he would have to surrender to the authorities by 7 July 2019 and would have to spend the rest of his days in prison.[5] Rajagopal surrendered to the authorities on 9 July 2019. Although his counsel pleaded for an extension of bail on medical grounds, the plea was rejected by the Supreme Court, which ordered the tycoon to "surrender immediately". Rajagopal also sought exemption from surrendering and pleaded that his hospitalisation time be treated as time spent behind bars. The court rejected this.
Death
After surrendering on 9 July 2019 to serve his life sentence, Rajagopal had a heart attack on 13 July 2019.[10] The Madras High Court granted permission to transfer him from the prison ward of Stanley Medical College Hospital to Vijaya Hospital in Chennai, where the perverted rapist and murderer died on the morning of 18 July 2019.[11]
References
- ^ https://m.timesofindia.com/city/chennai/saravana-bhavan-founder-p-rajagopal-dies-in-chennai/amp_articleshow/70272624.cms
- ^ "Saravana Bhavan owner sentenced to life". express buzz. 20 March 2009.
- ^ "Hotel Saravana Bhavan". Chennaibest.com.
- ^ a b "Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal sentenced to life for murder, SC upholds conviction". The News Minute. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b "SC upholds life term of Saravana Bhavan owner for employee's murder". indianexpress.com. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ "The spectacular fall of India's 'dosa king'". Deccan Herald. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ "Saravana Bhavan founder gets life term in murder case - TopNews". www.topnews.in. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ "Saravana Bhavan founder gets life for murder". The Hindu. 19 March 2009.
- ^ Romig, Rollo. "Masala Dosa to Die For". New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ Vasudevan, Lokpria (16 July 2019). "Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal critical, on ventilator". India Today. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Saravana Bhawan founder P Rajagopal passes away after heart attack in Chennai,India". The Economic Times. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
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