Mysore/Mysuru: A man has set fire to the house of a building owner after the latter asked him to pay the rent for the room in which his brother was staying.

The incident took place on Jan. 18 at about 10.30 pm at Janata Layout in Yaraganahalli and a case has been registered at Alanahalli Police Station.

While building owner is S. Kumar, the accused is Darshan, brother of Sumith, who had taken the room on rent.

In his complaint, Kumar has stated that he had given the room on the fourth floor for rent to one N. Sumith six months ago while his family stayed on the ground floor and houses on the three floors were given on lease. Sumith’s brother Darshan used to come to the room now and then to meet his brother.

Kumar further stated in the complaint that though Sumith had vacated the room two months ago, he had kept a few things in the room. As he (Kumar) wanted to ask Sumith to vacate the room completely, pay rent for two months and get the room painted, he (Sumith) was not coming in contact.

On Jan. 18 at about 9 pm, Kumar saw Sumith’s brother Darshan near R. Mahadevappa Circle (Yaraganahalli Circle) and spoke to him about the rent. Irked over Kumar asking for rent, Darshan fought with Kumar and went away.

At about 10.30 pm, Darshan, who came to the house of Kumar on the ground floor, poured petrol to the door, set it on fire and fled from the spot.

Neighbours, who saw the door on fire, managed to douse it and rescued those inside the house. The door was completely charred resulting in a loss of Rs. 80,000, Kumar has stated in the complaint.

Based on the complaint, Alanahalli Police registered a case and are investigating.