Chennai: Company vice-president faced wrath of peer group

Chennai: Yele! Podu ley! (means ‘hack him’ in Tirunelveli Tamil dialect) This was the only conversation of a duo that hacked a vice-president of a billion dollar power transmission enterprise to death in Kumaran Colony on Tuesday night.

The murder is suspected to be the outcome of a corporate ladder race.

Venkateswaralu, (51), who was recently elevated to the post of  vice president in a Gujarat-based firm, left his Anna Nagar office and was heading home in his car with his driver when the incident occurred.

While nearing home, Venkateswaralu told his driver Arumugam to halt on Kumaran Nagar 3rd street near a private poly-clinic so that he could consult his physician.

Post-consultation, Venkateswaralu purchased medicines from the drug store in front of the clinic. It was around 9.20 pm. Before he got into the car, two helmet wearing men on a two-wheeler intercepted him.

The pillion rider clubbed him and ordered his accomplice to hack Venkateswaralu with a sickle.

Venkateswaralu suffered three deep cuts, one at the back of his head, one on the neck and the other on his hip. Arumugam who intervened, also suffered a cut in his head.

Venkateswaralu died on the spot, which was less than 100 m away from his residence - CDS Enclave in  Kumaran Colony.  Arumugam was admitted to a private hospital. The body was moved for post-mortem.

“We are in the process of identifying the assailants. We have identified their vehicle and we are hoping to trace them soon”, said a senior police official.

The ghastly murder comes a day after the report of a murder attempt, in which a former history-sheeter had a narrow escape. Preliminary investigation suggest the role of another top official of the company in the murder.

“It appears Venkateswaralu has brought in several procedural reforms and transparency following his elevation. This had attracted the wrath of his peer group in different ranks. He had also cancelled some of the procurement deals executed by his subordinates due to deviations that he had detected in them,” the official said.

However, the official refused to disclose further details about the employee who is in question regarding the murder. Virugambakkam police had registered a case. The deceased is survived by his wife and two children.