Four Arrested for Murder of Harbour Worker Over Rs 9 Lakh Loan in Thiruvottiyur

A 29-year-old Chennai harbour worker was hacked to death on West Mada Street in Thiruvottiyur on Wednesday night following a dispute between two families over an unpaid Rs 9 lakh loan. Four suspects were tracked down and arrested within hours of the murder.

The incident took place around 8:40 pm in front of a house on West Mada Street. The victim, Pradeep Raj, son of Dilli Babu, was walking along the street when a group led by Naveen Kumar attacked him with knives. Pradeep Raj sustained severe cut injuries to his head and face and died on the spot. His body was recovered by police and moved to the morgue at Government Stanley Hospital.

A Thiruvottiyur police team led by Inspector of Police Alex traced the suspects to Madhavaram shortly after the killing. Police arrested Narayanan alias Naveen Kumar, 32; Hari Krishnan, 21; Jabar, 24; and Lokesh, 27. Investigators also seized the knives used in the attack from the suspects.

According to police, the murder was the fallout of a prolonged dispute between the two families. Pradeep Raj’s mother, Rani, had borrowed Rs 9 lakh from Navaneetham, the mother of Naveen Kumar, but had failed to repay the money. The dispute escalated on July 26 when Navaneetham went to demand repayment, where Pradeep Raj, Rani, his father Dilli Babu, his sister Lavanya, and his brother-in-law Sathish allegedly threatened her.

Navaneetham later filed a police complaint after consuming thyroid medication and undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Thiruvottiyur police registered a case and arrested Pradeep Raj, remanding him in judicial custody before he was subsequently released on station bail.

Amid continued friction, police summoned both Navaneetham and Rani to the Thiruvottiyur police station for an enquiry on September 8 to avert clashes, instructing both sides to resolve their dispute peacefully in view of Vinayagar Chathurthi celebrations. Following that enquiry, however, Pradeep Raj threatened Navaneetham’s family again, filed a formal complaint against them, and sought action against a relative.

Police said the four arrested suspects were being interrogated and would be produced before a court to be remanded in judicial custody on Thursday evening.