In 2001, Saravana Bhavan owner P Rajagopal hired eight henchmen to abduct and murder Prince Santhakumar, the husband of Jeevajothi, an employee's daughter. Rajagopal had pursued then 20-year-old Jeevajothi to become his third wife but she did not oblige. His men kidnapped and strangulated Santhakumar to death in October 2001 and later his body was found in Kodaikanal forest range.