Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday ordered an investigation into the suicides of three medical college students in Villupuram, and announced compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the students' families. Earlier, the Madras High Court directed the government to preserve the body of one of the students, after her parents filed a plea alleging she was murdered. On Monday, police arrested the son of the chairman of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy and Research Institute in Tamil Nadu in relation to the case. NDTV reported that the chairman of the Villupuram college, Vasuki Subramanian, surrendered as well.

The three second-year students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy and Research Institute in Kallakurichi near Viluppuram in Tamil Nadu committed suicide on Saturday evening. A post-mortem report stated their death was by drowning. In their suicide note, they accused the college management of charging excess fees and blamed the college chairman for their death. The students were identified as 18-year-olds E Saranya and V Priyanka, and T Monisha, 19.

Students launched protests following the womens' deaths and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible. They also asked for action against the college for charging exorbitant fees and not holding classes, and asked for transfers to other colleges. Among their demands was that the families of the three deceased students be given Rs 10 lakh as financial assistance. Students have brought up a number of allegations against the university, including that they were never issued certificates, that classes were not held and that they had to perform menial tasks in their hostels.