Coimbatore police arrested 54-year-old P Premanand, a passenger auto rickshaw driver from Venkateswara Nagar, for murdering hotel owner S Dhilipan, 37, and attempting to kill his paramour, Anbu Esther (alias Kalamani), 37, at Nagamanaickenpalayam on Tuesday.
Dhilipan, who ran Uzhavan Hotel in Nagamanaickenpalayam, was killed after Premanand, a widower, expressed interest in marrying Anbu Esther. The woman, a divorcee from Tirunelveli, rejected Premanand’s proposal as she was already in a relationship with Dhilipan.
Police reported that around 5:30 a.m., Premanand forcibly entered Anbu’s home at Sri Chinnaiyan Nagar, stabbing Dhilipan multiple times. When Anbu intervened, he stabbed her on the hip and cut the LPG connection in the kitchen, triggering a major fire. Neighbors alerted authorities after hearing the commotion.
By the time police and fire personnel arrived, Dhilipan had succumbed to his injuries. Both Anbu and Premanand were rescued with burn injuries and admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Sulur police confirmed that Premanand had previously attempted to attack the couple on January 4. He had been arrested, lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison, and released on conditional bail last month. Investigations are ongoing.
