CHENNAI: In a dramatic early-morning incident on Thursday, a known criminal who fled to the Director General of Police (DGP) office seeking protection from a rival gang was arrested after police found a knife in his possession.

The incident occurred around 2 am when Sathyamurthy (24), alias Appu, a C-category history-sheeter, was riding along Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai. He noticed two motorcycles trailing him and, fearing an attack, altered his route and drove straight into the DGP office complex near the Mylapore fire station, alerting security personnel on duty.

Police from the Marina station were rushed to the spot. During a preliminary check, officers found Sathyamurthy carrying a knife, leading to his immediate arrest. He was later remanded in judicial custody.

Further inquiry revealed that Sathyamurthy is an accused in a 2023 murder case registered in Otteri. The men allegedly chasing him were associates of the murder victim.

Later in the day, acting on intelligence inputs about possible retaliatory violence, city police stepped up vehicle checks across Chennai. During the operation, Otteri police arrested one of the suspected pursuers, identified as Imran, who was found carrying a sword.

Police said efforts are under way to trace and apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the chase.