Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal is dead

CHENNAI: P Rajagopal, the owner of the Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants, has died in hospital a week after he surrendered to serve a life sentence for the 2001 kidnapping and murder of an employee. On July 10, 72-year-old Rajagopal had arrived in an ambulance with an oxygen mask strapped to his face after the Supreme Court turned down his request to delay his sentence on medical grounds.

Rajagopal had been admitted to a private hospital after his surrender. Sources say he suffered a heart attack.

Dubbed the "Dosa king", Rajagopal had been granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2009 but had to surrender by July 7.

In 2004, Rajagopal was convicted in the kidnapping and murder of an employee, Prince Santhakumar.