Truck carrying cardamom catches fire. 10 days later, driver dies after night of police questioning in Madurai

A truck carrying cardamom caught fire near a tank bund in Madurai district on November 3, carrying parcels and bags of the spice from Theni. Ten days later, on Saturday morning, the driver, R Balakrishnan, was found unconscious in a restroom at the Chekkanoorani police station, where he had spent the night after being questioned about the incident.

Paramedics rushed him to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police suspected Balakrishnan had attempted to take his own life. In response, the station inspector, Muthu, and two constables were suspended, and a judicial inquiry was ordered. The incident was transferred to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) for further investigation.

Footage from the station's surveillance cameras has been preserved for use in the case. The fire led to two complaints, one from the agent who sent the cardamom, who suspected that some bags were missing, and a second from Balakrishnan himself, who lodged a complaint about the fire in his Eicher goods vehicle. Balakrishnan's wife, Sudha, claimed he had initially reassured her that it was a fire case, but he also mentioned that about 10 people wanted a case filed against him.

She alleged that he was pressured over the cardamom consignment and that she learned of his condition from his employer, as the police did not inform her of his situation. The cause of Balakrishnan's death has not been independently established as a suicide, and the police investigation is ongoing.