Ex-manager attacks hotel owner, two held

S Palaninathan, one of the two partners of Hotel Sri Venkateswara at Chintadripet, was attacked with a machete outside the restaurant around 11.30 pm on Saturday. The incident happened just a few metres away from the police station.

Palaninathan sustained injuries on his hands and head, and was rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital from where he was transferred to a private hospital in Mylapore. Based on a complaint and inputs, Chintadripet police secured T Senthil Kumar (40) of Ariyalur district, who worked a manager in the restaurant and seized a one-foot long knife from him.

Investigation revealed that the manager and the partner of the restaurant, S Senthil Kumar of Chintadripet, had allegedly swindled money from there. Palaninathan who came to know about it dismissed Senthil Kumar as manager three months ago. Infuriated over this, him and the business partner hatched a plan to eliminate Palaninathan and attacked him on Saturday night.

Police also arrested S Senthil Kumar and remanded the duo in judicial custody. Palaninathan is said to be out of danger.