Sasi’s husband passes away, gets 15-day parole for funeral

Chennai, March 20

M Natarajan, who began as a DMK youth front leader and later got close to late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa along with his wife VK Sasikala, died on Tuesday at a private hospital here. He was 74.

According to a statement issued by the Gleneagles Global Health City, Natarajan died at 1.35 am. "Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain his revival. However, despite our best efforts he was unable to recover," the statement said.

Ailing for some time, Natarajan was hospitalised on March 16 for chest infection and was on ventilator support. Late last year, he underwent a dual-organ operation. The body would be taken to his village in Thanjavur district for the last rites.

Natarajan's political career started with the DMK in its youth wing. Later, he joined the Tamil Nadu government's Public Relations Department. An enterprising official, he and his wife got close to Jayalalithaa through a video distribution business the couple ran in Chennai.

Sasikala, the now sidelined AIADMK leader, on Tuesday afternoon got a 15-day parole and left for Thanjavur to attend Natarajan's last rites.

"She has been granted parole for 15 days. She has been asked to limit her visit to Thanjavur and not to take part in any political activity," Bengaluru Central Jail Chief Superintendent M Somashekar said. Sasikala, 60, left from the prison in a private car. She had collapsed in the prison on hearing the news of her husband's death. Natarajan's death made the Prison Department grant parole a week after Sasikala's similar plea was rejected. — IANS