A 38-year-old man was murdered by his brother-in-law at his house in Battarahalli under the KR Puram police station limits on Thursday morning.

According to the police, the deceased, Maruthi, was an employee at HAL.

He was married to Sharadha for 15 years and they have two sons aged 14 and 10 years. Their eldest son is physically disabled.

Maruthi and Sharadha were not on cordial terms and would often fight over domestic issues. It is also learnt that Maruthi was a habitual drinker.

On Wednesday evening, Maruthi went home from work and picked a fight with Sharadha. He hit her and also beat his eldest son.

Sharadha, who was tired of his beatings every day, approached the KR Puram police.

The police counselled them and warned Maruthi that he would be sent to jail if he manhandled his wife and kids. Maruthi obliged and took his wife home, said the police.

On Thursday morning, Sharadha’s brother Dhanraj, who heard about the previous day’s events, went to their house and confronted Maruthi. Dhanraj was furious that Maruthi had hit their physically disabled son.

A heated argument ensued and in a fit of rage, Dhanraj took a wooden log and hit Maruthi on the head repeatedly, said the police. Maruthi bled profusely and collapsed on the ground.

Hearing the commotion, the neighbours rushed to the house and found Maruthi lying in a pool of blood.

They shifted him to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, the police arrested Dhanraj.

A case has been registered and investigation is being carried out.