The deceased was identified as Karunakaran (65) of Virugambakkam, who worked as a construction labourer, the police said. The accused, Rajendran (65), is also a resident of Virugambakkam and ran a pushcart eatery. The police said the two were friends for a long time.

According to the police, Karunakaran and Rajendran joined for a drinking session on Narayanasamy Street at 9 pm on Sunday when an argument broke out between them. During the altercation, Karunakaran allegedly slapped Rajendran.

Enraged, Rajendran brought a vegetable-cutting knife and stabbed Karunakaran in his chest. Hearing Karunakaran's cries, onlookers rushed to his aid and moved him to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The police recovered his body and moved it to the government hospital for post-mortem. Based on the complaint, the Virugambakkam police registered a case of murder and arrested Rajendran. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.