A petition to implead Para-Olympics gold medallist Thangavelu Mariappan in a death case, has been been filed by the mother of a dead teenager in Madras High Court, reports TNIE.

According to reports, Justice MS Ramesh before whom a petition from MM Muniyammal of Salem district came up for hearing, impleaded the athlete as a party respondent in the case. The matter has been adjourned till October 24.

Nineteen-year-old Satish was found dead near a railway track in Salem district in June. But the lorry cleaner's death had triggered a huge controversy with the deceased’s family alleging that Rio Paralympics gold medalist Thangavelu Mariappan and his friends had harassed him a day before his death.

Police had said that it was a clear case of suicide and the reason for the suicide was an argument he had with his family members.

Satish's family meanwhile claimed that he had antagonised Mariappan by ramming his two-wheeler into the athlete's new Mahindra car. He was reportedly beaten by Mariappan and his friends Sabari and Yuvaraj. They then allegedly snatched his mobile phone, forcing him to run behind them to get it back. He went missing since then and was later found dead near the railway tracks, according to the petitioner.

The deceased's family alleged that Satish had been murdered by Mariappan and his friends and even if it were a suicide, it was due to the harassment suffered at the hands of the athlete.