Police identified the victim as Thulasiraman Naidu, a senior citizen who was living with his wife Sulochana (80) on the second floor of his three storeyed-house in Anna Sathya Nagar. The couple has three sons, including the accused, Narashiman, a 47-year-old who was living in a portion on the same floor.

Police said the father and son had a long-standing tussle over a property. The son, a television mechanic, wanted a share with which he was planning to open a shop in Tirupati, but the father refused to relent.

On Wednesday afternoon, around 12.30 pm, when Thulasiraman was alone at his house sleeping, Narashiman wrapped him in a cloth and tied him up. He then doused his father in petrol on him, and set him on fire. After this, Narashiman went to his mother, who was on the ground floor, and informed what had happened before escaping from the spot.

Sulochana immediately informed her other son, Vinayagamurthy, who found his father on fire. They poured water and managed to douse the fire. The injured man was rushed to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Following this, police sent his body for post mortem examination, while Narashiman on charges of murdering his father.

Narashiman told the police that his father refused to sell the house and give him a share as he had been demanding for many years. Police said that the accused, a TV mechanic, wanted to set up a repair shop and settle in Tirupati.