Police on Tuesday arrested a 42-year-old cook at a restaurant in Chepauk here for murdering his colleague. Police said the cook, Muruganantham, a 'dosa master', threw a 75kg sack of rice on the head of 'chutney master' Arumugam, 52, around 1.30am on Tuesday. Police nabbed Muruganantham after the hotel employees informed them about the murder.

Both Muruganantham and Arumugam, who hailed from Devakottai in Sivaganga, were employed as cooks at an eatery on Anwar Sahib Street in Chepauk. Both of them stayed in a room on the first floor of the eatery.

Trouble started on Monday night when Muruganantham, who was drunk, forced Arumugam to have food when the latter was chopping onions to make sambar and chutney. Soon a quarrel erupted between them and Arumugam attacked Muruganantham with a knife. Muruganantham, who suffered a cut injury, was treated at a nearby private hospital.

On being informed, restaurant owner Ganesh rushed to the place. He asked Arumugam to leave the hotel. Arumugam left but returned at 1pm and slept in the room on the first floor.

Muruganantham, who was sleeping in the same room, got up after a while and saw Arumugam sleeping there. An enraged Muruganantham tried to strangle Arumugam.

When Arumugam fainted, Muruganantham lifted a rice bag and threw it on his head, killing him on the spot.

The Triplicane police registered a case under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. Muruganantham was remanded in judicial custody.