CHENNAI: Infuriated by opposition to relationship, a 22-year-old IAS aspirant strangled his girlfriend's mother in Mogappair East on Monday.

Maithili (63), a retired BSNL employee, separated from her husband, Jayakumar, five years ago and lived with her daughter Rithika (24) in Porur.

Rithika works in a private company and has been in a relationship with Shyam Kannan (22) of Mogappair Golden George Nagar, her junior in college, for the past three years. Shyam has been attending a coaching centre to crack the UPSC exam. He also visits Rithika in her home often, and the relationship drew an adverse reaction from Maithili, who frequently warned her to quit the relationship.

On Monday, Rithika and Maithili argued about Rithika reaching home late from work that day. Enraged, Rithika stormed out of the house and called Shyam. He reached her home and spoke with her outside.

When Maithili came out of the house to pacify her daughter and asked her to return home, Shyam also entered the house, triggering another argument as she asked Rithika to change her behaviour.

Seeing red as his girlfriend was scolded, Shyam strangled Maithili to death. JJ Nagar police registered a case and arrested Shyam from Virudhunagar on Tuesday evening.