Vijay Sethupathi fondly called as the Makkal Selvan is known for his close bonding with fans and his down to earth behaviour towards them is what attracts most of them apart from his exemplary acting skills.

Tragedy has struck in Puducherry as a Vijay Sethupathi fan club leader Manikandan aka Mani aged 36 was hacked to death by a;few men on October 4th when he was visiting his mother in law's place. The painter by profession has left behind his wife and two sons aged four and one who have been pushed into poverty.

The police who investigated the murder have arrested five persons and the main accused has been identified Rajasekhar who was not only a relative of Mani but also a member of the VJS fan club.

It is said in the police circles that Rajasekhar held the post of secretary in the Vijay Sethupathi Fans Club and wanted to become the president and was fighting for the post. He, however, was removed from the club since he started another association in Aatupatti area.

Rajasekhar confessed to the police that angered by Manikandan's reluctance to hold on to the president post and not giving it hatched the plan to murder him with the help of his friends Sunil, Maaran, Santhosh and Johnson.

Manikandan a few years back escaped death when a gang tried to poison him for informing the police about their illegal activities. He had escaped that time but lost his speech and could speak only with the help of a machine. The neighborhood is however sad that this time he could not escape death. An appeal has been made to the Vijay Sethupathi office in Chennai for relief measures to Mani's wife and two small children.