Initially suspected to be politically motivated, police now say a family property dispute led to Saranya's killing by her husband Balan and associates.
Published May 06, 2025 | 12:57 PM ⚊ Updated May 06, 2025 | 12:57 PM
Former Tamil Nadu BJP women's wing functionary Saranya hacked to death. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Saranya, former BJP women’s wing leader from Madurai, was brutally murdered near Pattukkottai on 5 May. Initially suspected to be politically motivated, police now say a family property dispute led to her killing by her husband Balan and associates. Three suspects surrendered in court on 6 May.
Saranya, a former office-bearer of the BJP’s Madurai Central district women’s wing, was brutally hacked to death near Pattukkottai in Thanjavur district on Monday, 5 May night. The gruesome murder, in which her head was reportedly severed, has sent shockwaves across Tamil Nadu.
According to the investigation, Saranya had been arguing that property should not be bought for the children of her husband Balan’s first wife . Angered by this, Balan, with the help of Durga’s husband Parthiban who works at his shop, along with his son Kabilan and Kabilan’s friend Gugan, murdered Saranya.
On Tuesday, 6 May, the three people have surrendered at the Madurai court.
The attack took place in Udayasuriyapuram, near Pattukkottai, where Saranya had been staying. According to police sources, she was ambushed by a gang armed with sickles. After the brutal killing, the assailants fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of horror. Her body was recovered and sent to the Pattukkottai Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.
While the murder was initially alleged to have political links, the investigation has revealed refuted the claims.
Saranya’s name had previously surfaced in a controversial incident involving Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) in 2022.
During the funeral of Indian Army soldier Lakshmanan, who was killed in a terror attack and whose body was flown into Madurai airport, tensions flared when Minister PTR and BJP members — including then BJP Madurai Urban district president Dr Saravanan (now with the AIADMK) — were present to pay their respects.
A scuffle broke out between supporters of both sides. Amid the chaos, PTR’s car was allegedly pelted with footwear, prompting police to register cases based on video evidence. Saranya was one of the key accused in the incident and was reportedly seen among those who surrounded and attacked the minister’s vehicle.
Following a leadership change in the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit, after K Annamalai stepped down as state president, Saranya had reportedly distanced herself from party events and public functions, according to sources familiar with BJP activities in Madurai.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
