Suspended VAO found murdered on East Coast Road

The body of a Village Administrative Officer (VAO), on suspension, was found on Nagai East Coast Road on Sunday. He was identified as T. Rajaraman, 39, a resident of Vaazhakkarai near Thirukkuvalai.

Rajaraman, who served as VAO of Thiruvaimur and had earlier been in charge at Ettukudi, was arrested in 2024 on charges of accepting a ₹500 bribe and was subsequently placed under suspension. The case is pending trial. He had appeared before the Nagapattinam court on Friday in connection with the matter. Late on Saturday night, his body was found on East Coast Road within the Velippalayam police station limits..

Police said unidentified assailants had waylaid ad attacked him with stones and left him with severe head and facial injuries. Rajaraman had been living separately from his wife, Manoshitha, and their nine-year-old son for about a year in Kottucherry in Karaikal district.

Residents found his body on the roadside and alerted Velippalaiyam police. The body was sent to the Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police said the body bore external injuries consistent with a beatings. Investigators are awaiting the post-mortem report for further details.

Police sources said the victim’s mobile phone and wristwatch were missing from the scene and robbery as a motive could not be ruled out. “Initial enquiries show personal items were taken from the body,” a senior police official from the Velipalayam police station said.

However, police are also probing other angles including whether the attack was carried out by a local gang or due to a personal dispute.