A 35-year-old man, who murdered his 38-year-old-wife and three stepdaughters on Tuesday and lived in the house with their bodies until Thursday night, was arrested during the small hours of Friday.

The arrested was identified as Chinnaraj, 35, a native of Bargur in Krishnagiri district. He was living with Pandiammal and her three daughters — Pavithra, 19, Parimala, 18, and Sneha, 16 — in a rented first floor accommodation in a residential building on Muthu Street, right next to the Royapettah police station.

Pandiammal was reportedly protecting her daughters by keeping Chinnaraj away from them ever since he started coming home in an inebriated condition and ogling them.

Pandiammal visited her home town last week and returned to the city on Monday morning.

The couple had a fresh quarrel over the wayward ways of Chinnaraj, who stormed out of the house. He came home drunk late at night and was made to sleep outside.

An irate Chinnaraj woke up during the small hours and smashed the heads of Pandiammal, Pavithra, and Parimala and strangled Sneha using a wire.

Chinnaraj’s landlord tipped off the police on Thursday evening after a foul smell emanated from the house.

The killer was picked up when he came to collect his scooter parked on Marina Beach.