Curiosity draws Kanchi to witness don’s last journey  

CHENNAI: For some, he is a ‘good guy. For some, a ‘bad guy’. But there is hardly anyone in Kancheepuram who did not know him. As Sridhar Dhanapalan’s family was preparing for his final rites, some referred his death as an end to the ‘evil’ ahead of Deepavali. Others had a different view.
However, news of the don’s death brought in hundreds. They were all there, wanting to get a glimpse of his body as it was brought to his hometown, Thiruparthikundram in Kancheepuram district at around 2.45pm on Monday.  Most people visited the house — located two km from the main road — out of curiosity. Some clicked pictures and took videos. Outside, crackers were burst and drums were played. 

A long line of parked cars and bikes greeted people wanting to go through the area. Surreal scenes ensued as officials tried to contain the crowd. Some even resorted to climbing compound walls to get one last view of the remains of the body. Wooden barricades had to be installed to streamline the crowd. 
“I have seen him many times when we were young. But once he went away, I never visited their house,” Pandi, a neighbour, says. “Today after nearly five years I am seeing him, but in a coffin. Though he was involved in  plenty of criminal activities, he helped a few locals as well.”

Kamala, another woman, supported that claim. She had never spoken to him though. “I have seen him many times, but never got a chance to interact with him,  but I have visited his house and met his wife (Kumari),” she says.Other sources indicated Sridhar had a fondness for casinos. “A day before he died, he played casino in ‘Nagaworld’ in Cambodia where he lost nearly `50 lakh,” a source close to the family says. “For the last three months, he was depressed as his family members never responded to him properly. His income (also) had come down.” This source had spoken with Sridhar’s personal cook, Deivendran. He had started working for Sridhar in 2015. 

“On the day, Sridhar decided to end his life, he had apparently told the cook to leave for Kancheepuram and that he was going to die in ten minutes and his advocates would bring his body back,” added the source. Sridhar allegedly committed suicide in Cambodia on October 4. The source further added that  Sridhar had consumed poison which led to a cardiac arrest. Interestingly, the poison he consumed is said to have been sent by a gold dealer from Kancheepuram. The death certificate issued by Khema International polyclinic states Sridhar died of cardiac arrest. This is not yet to be verified by the local police. 

His body was finally brought back to India on Sunday. It was transferred to the Chengalpattu government hospital for an autopsy after a lengthy wait at the airport. The hospital also upgraded its security apparatus to avoid public. A senior police officer said, DNA  samples and fingerprints have been taken and will be sent to identify if the deceased is Sridhar. Sridhar left the country in 2013 and was believed to be hiding in the south-east Asian country. He was facing at least 43 cases including seven murders in his hometown Kancheepuram. He owned huge tracts of land that were allegedly acquired through extortion.

Most wanted
Sridhar left the country in 2013. He was facing at least 43 cases including seven murders in his hometown Kancheepuram