Tamil Nadu: 3 members of family die after being given poison in guise of Covid cure pills

In an appalling incident brought to light from Tamil Nadu’s Erode, three members of a family lost their lives after they were provided with poison in the guise of COVID cure medicines.

On investigating the case, it revealed that the key accused, R Kalyanasundaram, aged 43 of Keezhvani village, had taken Rs 15 lakh from Karuppanakounder, aged 72 of Karungoundanvalasu village a few months back.

Not being able to pay the loan amount and facing pressure from the moneylender, the accused came to a decision to get rid of Karuppanakounder and his family.

The accused, Kalyanasundaram sought the help of Sabari, aged 25, who acted to be a Health Department worker to pass on the poison pills to the family of four.

Equipped with the accoutrement of a healthcare worker, which included a temperature gun and pulse oximeter, Sabari went to Karuppanakounder’s residence on 26th June. He asked whether Karuppanakounder and his family had fever or cough, then gave them some medicine by saying they would boost immunity against Covid-19.

Karuppanakounder, his wife Mallika, daughter Deepa and domestic help Kuppal took the medicine and fell unconscious. Neighbours found the four unconscious and took them to a hospital. Mallika passed away on the way to the hospital; Deepa and Kuppal died the next day. Karuppanakounder himself is in serious state.

On Sunday, the police took Kalyanasundaram and Sabari into their custody after finding inconsistency in their testimony.

"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," Erode DSP Selvaraj told India Today.

The two accused were presented before the Judicial Magistrate of Perundurai sub-court, who sent them to 15 days judicial custody.

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