A call centre employee from Andhra Pradesh was murdered while he was returning home late on Thursday night.
The incident took place in a poorly-lit street in Nookampalayam near Tambaram.
Four men have been detained and the victim’s cell phone was recovered from one of them.
The victim, 24-year-old C. Sri Harsha, a native of Srikakulam district, was noticed lying in a pool of blood on the margins of Netaji Road by residents close to midnight.
The suspects allegedly stole his iPad, gold jewellery and his cell phone. He had left behind his wallet at home.
The police said he had gotten down from the office vehicle at Semmancheri, Rajiv Gandhi Salai around 10 p.m. He was walking through the stretch leading to Nookkampalayam when the assault took place.
He had come to Chennai only two months ago and was staying with a relative.
The body was sent to Government Royapettah Hospital and later handed over to relatives.
The suspects have been involved in cell phone theft cases in the past, said police officers.
