Chennai: Harassment by a film financier who allegedly charged exorbitant interest rates led to the suicide of a relative and confidante of actor-director director M. Sasikumar at his residence in Virugambakkam on Tuesday.
The deceased, B. Ashok Kumar (43) was found hanging in his residence around 7 pm, police sources said. He was the co-producer of movies under Sasikumar’s production house- Eesan, Poraali, Kodi Veeran among others.
Meanwhile, a suicide note recovered from Ashok Kumar's residence is already viral on social media with many personalities from the film fraternity expressing condolences to the bereaved family members and seeking action against the money lending mafia.
In the suicide note, Ashok Kumar has mentioned the name of a Madurai-based film financier, Anbu Chezian, whom he has accused of harassment. “For seven years, he had charged exorbitant interest rates. However, for the past six months, he stooped to levels wherein he started harassing women and elders in our family by sending strangers to the house,” the suicide note read.
He also alleged that the financier is well connected with the police and politicians and no legal action could be taken against him. The 43-year-old further stated that he felt bad to see actor Sasikumar put under stress for his mistakes.
Ashok Kumar's body was moved to the Government Royapettah Hospital for autopsy. Meanwhile, Sasikumar filed a complaint with the Valasaravakkam police against the Madurai-based film financier. The film financier mentioned in the suicide note was arrested earlier by the police on charges of usury.
