Chennai: Within a day after a Thiruvottriyur resident complained to the police that he faced a threat to his life over a money dispute, he was hacked to death by a gang. His complaint, followed by a video, went viral after his murder. Four men were arrested for the murder.
Pradeep Raj , an actor and a Chennai Harbour employee, was murdered on Wednesday night.
Police said the dispute stemmed from a ₹9 lakh loan taken by Pradeep Raj’s mother, Rani, who ran a textiles shop, from Navaneetham, who ran an eatery in the locality. When Navaneetham sought repayment on July 26, Pradeep Raj and his family members allegedly threatened her. Police said inspector Alex of the Thiruvottiyur station summoned both parties on Sept 8 after learning of tension linked to the annual installation of a Vinayagar idol opposite Navaneetham’s eatery.
Navaneetham later filed a complaint, following which a case was registered against Pradeep Raj, who was arrested and later released on bail. A special team traced the accused to Madhavaram and arrested Navin Kumar along with three associates, identified as Hari Krishnan, Jabar and Lokesh. Police recovered knives from them.