CHENNAI: The deceased, S Ramesh alias 'Amukka' Ramesh of Korukkupet, worked as a loadman in Mannadi and had three petty cases pending against him, said police.
On Sunday night, Ramesh participated in a birthday party of his friend Anand at Bharathi Nagar housing board park, where a quarrel erupted between him and one Udaya alias 'Karuppu' Udaya.
In the melee, Udaya and his friends attacked Ramesh with steel rods and smashed his head with a stone, killing him on the spot.
While the suspects fled the spot, Korukkupet police, on information, rushed to the spot and sent Ramesh’s body to the Government Stanley Hospital for post-mortem examination.
A special team of Washermenpet police secured the suspects - S Aravindhan (21) of Korukkupet and A Mohammed Rasulullah (22) of Old Washermenpet. The main accused Udaya was also secured from Korukkupet on Monday morning.
Inquiry revealed that the deceased Ramesh allegedly stole a mobile phone of Udaya's brother Rajesh a few days ago and there was enmity between them over the theft incident.
Further investigation is on to ascertain if there was any motive for the murder.