File photo of Rajinikanth(L) and actor Vijay

VILLUPURAM: A 26-year old ardent fan of Rajinikanth was arrested on Friday for murdering his 22-year-old neighbor, a die-hard fan of actor Vijay, during a heated argument over whose favorite hero made higher contribution towards the COVID-19 relief work. He was remanded at Tindivanam Central Prison on Friday evening.

Marakkanam police said the deceased was M Yuvaraj. The accused was identified as A Dinesh Babu. They lived in opposite houses on Sandhikappan Temple Street at Marakkanam town. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon when Yuvaraj, Dinesh Babu and Yuvaraj’s younger brother Pavithran were chitchatting about impacts of COVID-19 and the lockdown. An altercation broke out between Yuvaraj and Dinesh Babu about which of their favorite heroes had donated a higher amount to the COVID-19 relief fund.

The heated argument escalated to abuses and suddenly Dinesh Babu threw a stone towards Yuvaraj. The stone hit Yuvaraj on his right eyebrow. He was rushed to Marakkanam GH by local residents, but was declared brought dead. His body was then sent to a private hospital in Kalapet for postmortem.

