Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State general secretary ‘Auditor’ V. Ramesh was hacked to death by an unidentified gang on his office premises at Maravaneri here on Friday night.
The police said he dropped his family at their residence on Second Cross and came to office on Third Cross to park his car.
He was found dead in a pool of blood by neighbours who informed the police.
Police suspect that the incident took place around 9.30 p.m.
Meanwhile, demanding the arrest of the accused, cadre of BJP staged a protest and refused to let the body be taken to the hospital.
Tension
Tension prevailed in the area and police personnel were posted in large numbers.
The party cadre also blocked road and pelted two buses with stones.
Ramesh, a practising chartered accountant, contested unsuccessfully for the post of Mayor for Salem City Municipal Corporation in September 2011.
He also served as RSS State secretary between 1987 and 1992.