The accused, N Vinoth, a car driver, was infuriated that the victim R Revathi (45) of Narasingapuram in Guindy had called off the marriage of her elder daughter to him, said the police.

  

After Revathi’s husband Ramachandran died four years ago, she worked as a housemaid in different places to bring up her two daughters.

In March last year, Revathi and Vinoth’s family decided to get Vinoth and her elder daughter Jeevitha married. However, in November, Revathi came to know that Vinoth is addicted to gambling and liquor. Following this, she called off the marriage.

Vinoth started harassing Revathi’s family after which they filed a complaint at the Guindy All-Women Police Station. Instead of arresting Vinoth, the police let him off with a warning after getting his assurance in writing that he won’t trouble Jeevitha and her family, alleged Revathi’s relatives.

 

The issue escalated further when Revathi admitted Jeevitha in a hostel as Vinoth continued to harass her over phone and in person. Unable to digest it, Vinoth intercepted Revathi on Vandikaran Street when she was returning from work and picked up an argument with her. Suddenly, he stabbed her with a knife on the neck and fled the spot.

While Revathi died on the spot, the Guindy police sent her body to the government hospital for autopsy. Based on the CCTV footage, Vinoth was identified and secured in overnight search operation. He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody, said a police officer.