Tamil Nadu: 20-yr-old woman 'under treatment' at self-styled godman's Tiruvallur ashram dies after 'consuming pesticide'

A 20-year-old woman who had been living in an ashram for the treatment for her ailments from a self-styled godman died after allegedly consuming pesticide on Tuesday in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur.

According to a report in the Times of India, the woman's parents told police that they suspected foul play in her death.

The police have started questioning the self-styled godman, Munusamy, based on the parents' complaint.

On Tuesday morning, Hemamalini, who was a student at a private college, started vomiting at the ashram and she was taken to Tiruvallur Government Hospital.

The doctors said she had consumed pesticide and a few hours later, she died without responding to treatment, the report said.

Munusamy has an ashram in Vellathukottai near Poondi. According to the report, the self-styled godman used to claim that he can cure the ailments of people by poojas and herbal concoctions.

In 2020, Hemamalini's parents brought her to the ashram to get her treated for her stomach aches and neck pains. The godman allegedly told her to stay in the ashram for her treatment, and she had been staying there since then.

According to report, Munusamy refused to send her back home even when her offline classes started. He apparently told her parents that she had a "dosam", and poojas had to be done during no moon and full moon days.

She was also reportedly forced to attend the late-night poojas, the parents told the police.