Thangaraj, a 60-year-old lottery ticket seller from Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, who was critically injured after being hit by a car driven by Malayalam television serial actor Siddharth Prabhu, died late on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam. His death has prompted police to add more serious charges against the actor.

Who was Thangaraj?

Reports identified Thangaraj as a daily-wage worker and lottery seller who had come to Kerala in search of a livelihood. He was living a modest, migratory life, moving between Tamil Nadu and Kerala to sell lottery tickets along busy roads and junctions. His family members rushed to Kottayam after the accident and remained by his side during his hospitalisation.

The accident

The accident occurred on the evening of December 24, 2025, near the Nattakam College junction on MC Road in Kottayam. According to police and eyewitnesses, Siddharth Prabhu’s car allegedly lost control, rammed into multiple vehicles, and struck Thangaraj, who was walking along the roadside.

Reports said the actor was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and at high speed at the time of the crash. Visuals from the scene showed him arguing with locals and police personnel, triggering public outrage.

Medical condition and death

Thangaraj suffered severe head injuries and multiple bodily fractures and was admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. Despite intensive treatment for over a week, he succumbed to his injuries on the night of January 1, 2026.

Legal action

Siddharth Prabhu was initially arrested and booked under sections related to drunk driving, rash and negligent driving, and creating public nuisance, before being released on bail. Following Thangaraj’s death, Chingavanam police confirmed that additional and more stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) will now be invoked.

Police sources said charges related to causing death by negligence, and potentially culpable homicide not amounting to murder, are under consideration, subject to post-mortem and forensic findings. The case has renewed calls for stricter enforcement against drunk driving, especially involving high-profile individuals.