Police question Paralympian in connection with man's death

Paralympic gold medallist T Mariyappan has been questioned following the death of a man with whom he had allegedly got into a quarrel, police said on Tuesday.

However, the athlete was allowed to go after the enquiry on Sunday.

19-year-old Satish was found dead on a railway track in the district on Saturday. Earlier that day he reportedly got into a quarrel with Mariyappan after his two-wheeler dashed against the athlete's car, police said.

A district police official told PTI that Satish's parents were demanding a probe against Mariyappan and his friends.

Since he was found dead after an alleged quarrel involving a car owned by Mariyappan, they wanted a probe to be held, the official said.

The officer, however, said no formal complaint has been lodged against the athlete.

Meanwhile, a railway government police official said a case of suspicious death is being investigated under relevant sections of the CRPC.

However, Mariyappan said he had nothing to do with the death of the man.

"My name has been unnecessarily dragged into this. I am busy training for future events," he told PTI over phone from the Sports Authority of India facility in Bengaluru. Mariyappan said though he had been called for an enquiry by the local police in this regard, his name was cleared.

His coach S Sathyanarayana alleged that the athlete is being dragged into the issue to tarnish his reputation.

The coach claimed no complaint had been filed against Mariyappan, adding the Paralympic gold medal winner was focused on winning honours at an event in London later this year.

Image: Gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu

Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com