Chennai: Amidst high drama P. Rajagopal, owner of Hotel Saravana Bhavan chain of hotels, was produced before the trial court in Chennai on Tuesday. Rajagopal and another co-convict Janardanan reached the court campus in separate ambulances on Tuesday after the Supreme Court refused to extend time limit to surrender before the court in connection with the murder of a youth in 2001. Rajagopal and Janardanan were sent to Stanely Government General hospital in the evening.
Nine others convicted in the case were detained at Puzhal prison after they surrendered before the court on Monday. Rajagopal was admitted to a private hospital in Vadapalani and Janardanan was undertaking treatment in a hospital at Anna Nagar. After the news broke out about Supreme Court rejecting his petition to extended time limit to surrender owing to health reason, Rajagopal and Janardanan decided to surrender before the court.
They reached the campus in ambulances at 3.50 pm. His counsel informed the IV Additional Judge G.Thanendran that Rajagopal and Janardanan had reached the court campus in separate ambulances and sought special arrangement for their appearance since they were indisposed and fitted with medical apparatus. As the public prosecutor opposed the plea, the judge directed their counsel to bring them to the court hall, located on third floor in the lift.
