Self styled godman Premananda passes away

Chennai, Feb 21 (PTI): Self-styled godman Premananda,convicted for rape and murder, died at a private hospitalhere today.

The 60 year-old Premananda, serving a double life term forrape and murder at his ashram in Tiruchirappalli in the early90s, was not keeping well for some time and had been admittedfor a liver transplant, police said.

A controversial figure, the Sri Lankan born self-styledgodman had moved to India in the early 80s and established anashram at Tiruchirappalli.

Some Tamil films also had characters loosely based on him.

His devotees had claimed he had been framed and had evenlaunched campaigns, seeking justice for him.