Naveen Bollineni, a 38-year-old treasury manager at Lactalis, the multinational dairy products corporation that owns Thirumala Milk Products Pvt. Ltd., was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Chennai on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Bollineni, a chartered accountant, was reportedly facing allegations of misappropriating ₹40-45 crore from the company.

Police discovered his body in a hut in Puzhal, Chennai. While preliminary investigations suggest suicide, the circumstances, including reports of his hands being tied, have raised suspicions of foul play. Bollineni, a native of Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, had allegedly sent an email prior to his death, confessing to the embezzlement and expressing his willingness to repay the amount. He also reportedly named some company officials, holding them responsible for his decision due to threats of imprisonment, even after he promised repayment.

The company’s legal manager, Mohammed Thamimul Ansari, had lodged complaints with the Central Crime Branch on June 24 and with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Kolathur, Pandiarajan, on June 25, regarding the misappropriation of funds. Acting on this, the DCP had ordered an inquiry.

Following Bollineni’s death, allegations surfaced on social media linking Deputy Commissioner of Police Pandiarajan to the incident. In response, Disha Mittal, the Joint Commissioner of Police, West, has been directed to inquire into the DCP’s role and submit a report.

The Greater Chennai Police stated that Naveen Bollineni was neither questioned nor summoned to the police station, and no formal case had been registered against him before his death, as the police were still seeking more details on bank transactions and other documents.