Accidental death case in Chennai turns out to be murder

Chennai: What was initially believed to be a road accident near Red Hills on Saturday night was later revealed to be a murder after the postmortem found the victim had multiple internal injuries, confirming assault. Police then arrested a history-sheeter who allegedly killed the man during a drunken altercation and dumped the body by the roadside in an attempt to make the death appear as a road accident.

On Saturday night, motorists found a two-wheeler abandoned on Minjur-Vandalur Outer Ring Road at Sholavaram, and a youth lying unconscious in a nearby ditch. Police identified the deceased as Manikandan, 29, of Vyasarpadi, who was reportedly involved in several criminal cases. His body was sent for postmortem to Stanley Government Hospital. The postmortem revealed internal injuries, confirming that the death was not the result of a road accident.

Investigation led police to Senthil Kumar alias Tinker Senthil, 44, of Vyasarpadi. Manikandan, Senthil and another man were reportedly drinking on Saturday when an argument broke out. Senthil attacked Manikandan with a log, causing fatal injuries. The accused abandoned the body near the Outer Ring Road. The case of accidental death was altered to murder, and Senthil was arrested. Police are searching for another suspect, Vignesh alias Vicky