The passersby alerted the authorities after they found an unconscious youth in a ditch and his two-wheeler near the service road of the Minjur–Vandalur Outer Ring Road at Marambedu near Sholavaram on Friday night.

The youth was moved to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. As there were injuries on his body, Sholavaram police registered a case of suspicious death and sent the body to Stanley Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The deceased was identified as Manikandan (29), a petty criminal from Vyasarpadi. The police investigations revealed that he was beaten to death. He was last seen with Senthil (44), also from Vyasarpadi. An investigation revealed Senthil was constructing a house at Sirungavoor near Red Hills. On Friday, during a liquor party with three friends, a dispute broke out, and Manikandan was allegedly beaten with a wooden log. To cover up the crime, the accused dumped the body by the roadside.

Sholavaram police have altered the case to murder and arrested Senthil, a history-sheeter. The police are searching for another accused, Vicky alias Vignesh.