CHENNAI: The Pallikaranai police are looking for a 25-year-old man who allegedly eloped with the mother of the woman he was to marry later this month. The construction worker, who often visited the house of his fiancée after the engagement, got attracted to the older woman and the two began a relationship that culminated in their running away, police said.

Parthasarathy, a native of Tindivanam who lived in Kovilambakkam near Pallikaranai, got engaged to an 18-year-old woman in the same area about two months ago. The girl’s father Sekar, 38, and mother Vasantha, 35, were construction labourers working in the locality and got to know of Parthasarathy and the match was fixed.

Soon, Parthasarathy became a frequent visitor to his fiancee ’s house and began mingling closely with all her family members. Vasantha was apparently taken in by his good behaviour and he began to present her with gifts, police said.

They gradually became close to one another. Vasantha often skipped work and stayed at home and Parthasarathy came to meet her. A few days ago, Vasantha’s daughter allegedly found the two of them together in an intimate position, investigators said.

That evening, soon after Sekar returned from work, the girl told him about it. A day after the incident, Vasantha went missing. A subsequent check revealed that Parthasarathy was also missing.

Sekar then lodged a complaint with the Pallikaaranai police who registered a case and launched a hunt for the two.