CHENNAI: What was initially believed to be a fatal snakebite has been uncovered as a meticulously planned murder in Podaturpet. The victim, E P Ganesan (56), a lab assistant at a government girls’ higher secondary school, was found dead at his home on October 22.
Based on a complaint filed by his son Mohanraj (26), Podaturpet police registered a case of unnatural death, assuming it to be an accidental snakebite. However, the case took a dramatic turn after an insurance company flagged irregularities in the family’s claims, citing suspicious conduct by the deceased’s sons.
Investigators found that Ganesan had suffered two snakebite incidents within a week. In the first, a cobra bit him on the leg while he slept; neighbours rushed him to hospital and his life was saved. Days later, he was bitten again—this time by a krait on the neck—and there was an unexplained delay in shifting him to hospital, leading to his death.
Police discovered that the family had taken multiple high-value insurance policies totalling ₹3 crore and availed several loans, far exceeding their known income. This raised red flags for the police.
On December 6, Asra Garg, Inspector General (North Zone), and Vivekananda Shukla, Superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur, ordered the formation of a special investigation team. The probe revealed that Ganesan’s sons—Mohanraj and Hariharan (27), both employed at a private firm—had conspired to kill their father to claim the insurance payout.
To carry out the plan, the brothers allegedly enlisted the help of their friend G Balaji (28), who in turn contacted B Prashanth (35), S Dinakaran (43), and G Naveenkumar (27) from Manavur. Police said venomous snakes were procured to stage the attacks. After the fatal bite, the krait was allegedly killed inside the house to destroy evidence.
Call detail records and scrutiny of suspicious financial transactions of around ₹2 lakh linked the sons to the accomplices. So far, six people—the two sons and four others—have been arrested. Further investigation is underway.
