The death of Sadiq Batcha, a close associate of former communications minister A. Raja, was due to asphyxia and his neck showed compression and a hanging mark, the government doctor who did his post-mortem said Thursday.
Dr V. Dekal of Royapettah Hospital said it was not possible now to say if it was suicide or murder. “We’ll have to wait till the forensic report is released.” The entire autopsy was videotaped.
The doctor said a microscopic examination would have to confrm if the hanging mark appeared before or after death. He added there were no other external marks. Skin samples taken from the neck and other parts of the body have been sent for forensic tests.
Some of Batcha’s angry relatives present at the hospital shouted slogans against the media. The body was then handed over to his relatives. The funeral is expected later at Perambalur, Batcha’s native place.