BBMP Special Commisioner for Health and Waste Management Randeep D IAS told media, “We have written to Registrar Karnataka Medical Council for an enquiry.”

Elumalai was the chairman of the Standing Committee for Social Justice and was hospitalised for 26 days. His funeral is to be held later on Thursday at KG Halli. He is survived by his wife and three children. On account of his death, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has declared a holiday and cancelled all official works.

Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister G Parameshwara expressed his grief over the untimely demise of Elumalai. He tweeted, “Saddened by the tragic and untimely demise of Shri V Elumalai, the Corporator of Sagayapuram. He was an able leader and an invaluable asset to the people of Sagayapuram. My deepest condolences to the grieving family.”

Elumalai had wanted a small cyst removed from his nose and was admitted to Santosh Hospital in Frazer Town on November 12. Later, after he had suffered a heart attack post-surgery due to an alleged overdose of anaesthetics, he was admitted to Vikram Hospitals but he remained in a comatose state for half a month until Thursday.

The botched surgery had triggered heated debates in the BBMP council meetings about medical negligence cases. Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun had said the BBMP will approach the Health Department and the Karnataka Medical Council to ask for a detailed probe into the matter and take coercive action.

A day after the botched operation, his family said that they will initiate legal proceedings against the hospital and staff and meet the Chief Minister, Health Minister over the issue. The Times of India quoted his brother V Velu saying, “It was a small boil, but the hospital officials insisted on a surgery, They did not conduct tests before giving him anaesthetic.”