By Express News Service
Published: 15th July 2016 06:00 AM
- Maheswari’s husband Pandiyarajan and other relatives wait in front of Royapettah hospital to receive her body, in the city in Thursday | martin louis
CHENNAI: The suicide of P Maheshwari came as a shock to her family, especially as she was in the final few days of her research fellowship. The post-doctoral research scholar was found hanging in her room in Sabarmathi hostel in IIT-Madras by other students on Wednesday evening around 5 pm.
“Her course was ending by July 22. Even when I visited her two weeks ago, she appeared normal,” Satish Kumar, Maheshwari’s cousin told Express at Government Royapettah Hospital. Maheshwari’s husband Pandiyarajan, Head Of Department (HOD) in a college, and the couple’s 10-year-old son had also come to the hospital where the autopsy was being done.
Satish Kumar said he was informed by another relative who called him up after a person from IIT-M informed the family.
Denying the reports about family conflict behind the suicide, Satish Kumar said, “I am 100 per cent sure it cannot be family reasons. She was a very strong woman and always into studies.”
Growing up in a family rooted in agriculture, she went on to pursue her degrees. Her family was always supportive, Satish said.
“From what we know so far, she went to have breakfast and did not turn up for lunch. Later, when friends went to check on her, they found her hanging,” Satish added.
The family of the other deceased woman, G Vijayalakshmi (47), did not wish to speak. The bodies of both women were handed over to their families after autopsy.
