M. Poornima, 30, daughter in-law of former Minister for Higher Education K.P. Anbalagan of the AIADMK, succumbed to burns at the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore on Thursday morning.
The police said she got married to A. Sasimohan, Mr. Anbalagan’s younger son, in 2019. The couple stayed in Palacode village in Dharmapuri district. On January 18, when she was lighting a lamp in the puja room of the house, her silk sari caught fire. The fire was put out, but she sustained severe burns. “According to the initial report, she sustained 83.5% burns at the time of the incident...,” the police said.
As she cried in pain, the maid rushed to her rescue. The family members, who were away, were alerted immediately. After first aid, Poornima was admitted to the CMC the same day. The judicial magistrate from Dharmapuri recorded her declaration at the hospital the following day.
“So far, we have not got any official request for an inquiry from the RDO [Revenue Divisional Officer] in Dharmapuri. If we get it, we may conduct it,” S. Kavitha, RDO, Vellore, told The Hindu. A case has been filed by the Palacode police.
An inquiry will be initiated on the receipt of inquest letter from the RDO, Vellore, said Geetha Rani, RDO, Dharmapuri. She said that since the death occurred at the CMC, Vellore, the RDO, Vellore, would have to first seek an inquest report and forward the letter to Dharmapuri. “We will conduct the inquiry within a week, as it is a case of a woman’s death within seven years of marriage,” she said.
Under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an RDO is supposed to inquire into the death of a woman within seven years of marriage.
