Boss sets employee on fire at workplace

The survivor, Yamuna, suffered 46 per cent burns and is undergoing treatment at Kilpauk Medical College. 

Her condition is critical, said doctors. A resident of Sivaprakasam Nagar in Madipakkam, Yamuna worked at Balaji Diagnostics Centre owned by a Raja on NSK Road in Vanavampet near Madipakkam. Her husband Anand (40) is a car driver and the couple has a four-year old daughter. 

According to sources, Yamuna was seen rushing out of the centre on Sunday evening with her body on fire. Passers-by helped douse the flames and rushed her to a private hospital from where she was shifted to KMC. 

The Madipakkam police said that Raja and Yamuna had earlier worked at the same private hospital. When Raja opened a diagnostic centre four months ago, he invited Yamuna to join at his lab promising her thrice the salary she was earning at the hospital. Once, Yamuna accepted the offer and started working with him, Raja refused to pay her the promised salary. 

Upset with this, Yamuna had threatened to quit, said the police. On Sunday, Yamuna told Raja that she had decided to return to the hospital. This led to an argument between them and Raja flung spirit at her and set her ablaze. Raja was later caught by the public and handed over to the police. 

A case of attempt to murder and criminal intimidation was registered against him and he has been remanded in judicial custody.