CHENNAI: K Chitra, 29, a popular Tamil TV actor and videojockey, was found dead hanging from the ceiling by a silk saree at a hotel room in Nazarethpet on the city outskirts early on Wednesday. A revenue divisional officer (RDO) inquiry has been ordered as she had died within two months of her marriage. No suicide note was found.
According to police, Chitra, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur, got engaged to Hemnath in August this year. The couple had registered their marriage on October 19 and were planning a wedding reception on February 10 after the pandemic subsides.
Since she had to take part in shooting at EVP Film City near Poonamallee till late in the night, Chitra and Hemnath stayed at Pleasant Stay Hotel near Nazarethpet on Monday and Tuesday.
Quoting Hemnath, police said Chitra came around 2.30am on Wednesday. She told her husband that she wanted to take bath and asked him to wait outside. After waiting for sometime, Hemnath knocked at the door, but there was no response. Later, he sought help from Ganesh, a hotel staff, who used a spare key to open the door.
Actor seemed preoccupied day before death: Friend
Chitra was found hanging from the ceiling by a silk saree. A Nazarethpet police team, which rushed to the spot, found two wounds on her chin. The body has been sent to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for postmortem. A police officer said the silk saree used to make the noose may have caused the injuries. Her mobile phone has been sent for forensic analysis.
Chitra’s father Kamaraj, a retired sub-inspector, said he didn’t suspect any foul-play in his daughter’s death and requested police to investigate the case in a fair manner.
Police have detained Chitra’s husband Hemnath and hotel staff Ganesh for inquiry. Meanwhile, Ambattur RDO Lavanya visited KMC hospital on Wednesday and conducted inquiry with her friends and family members. Police said autopsy would be held on Thursday.
Chitra began her career as a TV anchor and later started acting in serials. She became popular after her role as ‘Mullai’ in the soap opera Pandian Stores. Several TV actors and technicians visited the hospital to pay their last respects. One of her friends Sharanya Turadi, who had posted a video mourning the death, had worked with her during the shoot on Tuesday night. Chitra was preoccupied on Tuesday and was attending several calls on her phone, Turadi said.