Bharathi Ganesan (55), a social worker and president of Palayam channel farmers association, was involved in various social welfare schemes through Seva Bharathi Movement.
Police suspect his nephew might have murdered him as Ganesan, a bachelor and owner of a lot of property, had stated that he would give all of it to his brother and not his sister's family.
He had also been fighting against conversion of farmland into housing plots and had brought it to the notice of higher officials.