Chennai: Jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala's husband M Natarajan passed away at a hospital in Chennai at around 1.35 am as a result of a severe chest infection.

According to the reports from Puthiya Thalaimurai, Natarajan's body has been taken to Sri Ramachandra Medical hospital for embalming.

In a statement released by the hospital today, it said," It is with profound grief and sorrow that we announce the sad demise of Mr. Natarajan Maruthappa at  1.35 am today (20.3.2018). Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain his revival. However, despite our best efforts he was unable to recover." 

The 76-year-old was admitted to the intensive care unit, Gleneagles Global hospital on March 16 with severe chest infection and was on put on ventilator support.

In October last year, Mr Natarajan was admitted to the hospital, where he underwent a liver and kidney transplant.

He was discharged after having completely recovered from the operation with good liver and kidney graft function.

Sasikala, serving a four-year imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case in the central prison in Bengaluru, had visited her husband after obtaining emergency parole last year.

Mr Natarajan had worsening liver and kidney failure and lung congestion, ahead of the twin organ transplant.

Tracheostomy was performed on October 6, 2017, and he was on ventilator support for sometime, the hospital had said then.