R Mariappan, 28, was picked up at around 10pm on 6 July. He was promised ‘homosexual pleasure’ and then taken to a dark deserted stretch near the lake.

‘He was badly beaten up there and was asked to hand over all the money he had and his ATM cards. When he did not tell them the ATM PIN number, he was beaten again. Scared, he finally gave out the PIN number to them,’ police said.

Two of the accused went to an ATM and withdrew Rs28,000 ($441.33; €396). When they returned, they found Mariappan lying unconscious.

‘They left Rs 100 (396) in his pocket and left the place,’ police said.

Police searched the victim’s phone and found a message from his bank about the withdrawal. They then checked the ATM’s CCTV footage and identified one of the youths, who was already wanted for assault and theft.

He was arrested and confessed to the crime. The three other gang members were then also arrested.

‘They have done this to several other people but this was the first time that somebody died,’ police said.

Most of the victims never filed a complaint out of shame.

The accused have been remanded in judicial custody.