India's 'dosa king' begins life term for murdering love rival

P Rajagopal, 71, rose from rags to riches to create the global Saravana Bhawan chain

This file photo taken on June 28, 2019 shows the image of P Rajagopal, founder of the Saravana Bhavan food chain. Rajagopal began his life sentence on July 9 for murdering his love rival. AFP

The trailblazing Indian founder of a global restaurant chain handed himself in on Tuesday after losing a last-ditch bid to avoid a life sentence for murdering a love rival.

P Rajagopal rose from rags to riches to create the Saravana Bhawan chain which has more than 80 restaurants in India and around the world - from Leicester Square to Lexington Avenue via Singapore, Sydney and Stockholm.

He had been battling for 15 years to avoid prison after being convicted of killing of the husband of a woman he wanted to make his third wife, reportedly on the advice of his astrologer.

The 71-year-old, dubbed the "dosa king" after the famous South Indian food staple, was meant to have reported to prison on Sunday but made a final plea on medical grounds.

The Supreme Court in New Delhi turned him down on Tuesday and the judges ordered the tycoon to "surrender immediately".

He later gave himself up at the Madras High Court in Chennai, arriving in an ambulance with an oxygen mask strapped to his face.

Saravana Bhawan owes its success to catering to Indians and the large diaspora abroad with the winning formula of affordable South Indian delicacies like dosa pancakes, deep-fried vadas and idli rice cakes.

But Rajagopal's world came crashing down when he made up his mind to pursue the daughter of one of his legions of adoring employees, believing that she would bring him even greater success.

"He was obsessed with her," D Suresh Kumar, a Chennai-based journalist said.

The woman, then in her 20s, was already married and rejected Rajagopal's advances.

He targeted the woman with threats, blackmail, and even exorcisms, but when they failed the businessman hired a gunman to kill the woman's husband.

One attempt was unsuccessful, but the man's body was later found in a forest in Tamil Nadu.

In 2004, Rajagopal was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years.

When he appealed, the sentence was increased to life and the punishment was upheld by the Supreme Court in March.