A 42-year-old man allegedly stabbed his neighbour and his wife to death following a dispute over a suspected extramarital affair at Kanathur Reddikuppam on Monday night.
The accused, S. Parthiban alias Parthasarathy, a car driver and fisherman, lived in the same locality as Sushil Raj (32), a fisherman, and his wife Girija (29). Police said Parthiban had long suspected that his wife Jamuna was having an affair with Sushil Raj, leading to frequent quarrels at home.
Long-standing suspicion
About one-and-a-half years ago, after a major dispute, Jamuna reportedly left Parthiban and moved to her mother’s residence in Saidapet. Since then, he had been living alone.
On Monday night, an argument reportedly broke out when Girija questioned Parthiban for parking a two-wheeler outside his house. During the exchange, she allegedly made remarks about his strained marriage, which further provoked him.
Fatal attack with kitchen knives
Police said Parthiban went inside his house, took two kitchen knives and attacked Girija. When Sushil Raj attempted to intervene, he too was stabbed.
Girija died on the spot due to severe injuries. Sushil Raj was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his wounds.
The bodies have been sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for postmortem examination.
Police have arrested Parthiban and remanded him in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and motive behind the double murder.