Missing CPI-M leader W R Varadarajan’s body found in lake

The body of CPI-M leader and former MLA, W.R. Varadarajan, who was missing since Feb 11, was recovered Sunday from a lake in this Tamil Nadu capital, police said. He was 64.

The highly decomposed body of the communist leader was found in Porur lake in the city. Varadarajan's wife and other family members identified the body.

Varadharajan is said to have developed a relationship with a woman, when she approached him seeking some help following which his relationship with his wife had soured. His wife, Saraswathy, also a party activist, had complained to the party of his misconduct.

In the wake of his personal problems, Varadharajan, a national secretary of CITU and a Central Committee member of CPM, was divested of all party posts early this month for his conduct that was not in conformity with the Marxist principles.

Varadarajan was reportedly upset with his expulsion from the party's committee and other problems and left his home on February 11.

Two unsigned letters were received by the party earlier, seeking that his body be donated for medical research, donating his laptops and books to the CPI-M's publication "Theekathir", and the balance in his two bank accounts to the party.

Varadarajan, a qualified chartered accountant, quit his Reserve Bank of India (RBI) job, attracted by the communist ideology. A Brahmin, he had married Saraswathy, a Reserve Bank employee and a Dalit after the death of his first wife.

He was elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly in 1989 from Villivakkam constituency.

- Asian Tribune -