An auto-driver hailing from Chennai's Chitlapakkam, identified as Ansar Baasha, was murdered Monday night by a group of five men.

Ansar Baasha (31), who had been long separated from his wife, was residing in the Vinayagapuram area. Five men, identified as Ajith (21), Ashwin (22), Ashok (22), Santhosh Kumar (22), and Paneerselvam (22) followed him late Monday night as he was returning home and stabbed him to death. Ajith, the main accused, revealed during interrogation that Ansar had been having an affair with his mother Lakshmi and that a brawl ensued between Ajith and Ansar when the former tried to stop their relationship. Following this, Ansar allegedly attempted to kill Ajith, but he escaped and plotted with his friends to end Ansar's life. When Ajith spotted Ansar alone in his auto Monday night, he called his friends, who chased him down and then brutally murdered him.

A case has been registered against the five men under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, and the accused have been arrested.