Hyderabad, May 31 -- A petty vendor was brutally murdered by his friend in Budvel, Rajendranagar, following a heated argument over money in the early hours of Friday, police said.

The victim, identified as P Sai Karthik aged 29, hailed from Gorrekunta village in Geesukonda mandal, Warangal district.

He ran a goli soda business in Hyderabad and resided with a friend, Naveen, in Budvel. The accused, Siddha Reddy, a native of Pulivendula in Andhra Pradesh, also lived in Budvel and worked as a Rapido rider.

According to Rajendranagar police inspector K Kastro, Karthik had borrowed Rs 8 lakh from Reddy several months earlier for personal reasons, with a promise to repay the amount promptly. However, Karthik repeatedly failed to return the m...