Santhan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, died in Chennai on Wednesday following a cardiac arrest. The 55-year-old Sri Lankan national was freed by the Supreme Court in 2022 after serving 20 years of jail term.
The dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital where Santhan was undergoing treatment for "liver failure" told media that Santhan alias T Suthendiraraja died at 7:50 am.
"Santhan suffered a cardiac arrest around 4 am on Wednesday but was 'revived' following a CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) procedure and was given an oxygen supply and was on a ventilator," Theranirajan told reporters. However, he did not respond to treatment.
"A post mortem will be conducted. Legal arrangements are underway for the body to be sent to Sri Lanka," he added.
Santhan was one of the seven persons set free by the Supreme Court in 2022 after they served over 20 years of jail term in connection with the killing of the former prime minister near here in 1991. He was living in a special camp in Tiruchirappalli before being rushed to hospital on January 27 for liver failure. He has been staying in the camp since his release last year.