Chennai: A 40-year-old man murdered his colleague near Thiruverkadu after the latter refused to give him his share of money.The slain man was identified as Dhandapani, 45, a house painter and daily wage worker residing in Selva Ganapathy Nagar, Thiruverkadu. He often sold household items to buy alcohol, leading to frequent disputes with his elder brother and other relatives, said police. Upset over one such fight on Thursday, Dhandapani left home.On Saturday, residents of the Green Park area at Thiruverkadu discovered a body lying in the bushes with visible injuries on the neck and head. They informed the Thiruverkadu police. Upon reaching the scene, police identified the man and sent his body to Govt Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for autopsy.During the probe, police questioned Sudalai, a painter and friend of the slain man. Sudalai told police that both he and Dhandapani were working as painters at the same site. On June 26, a quarrel erupted between them after Dhandapani failed to pay Sudalai his share of the wages. Dhandapani told him that he used the money to buy liquor. In a fit of rage, Sudalai took out a knife and stabbed Dhandapani in the neck, killing him. He then fled the scene and returned home, said police.Following the confession, police altered the case to murder and remanded the accused in judicial custody. He was lodged in Puzhal central prison.
