A man today attempted to immolate himself along with his seven-year-old son in front of the Superintendent of Police office here as he was not able to get back Rs 10 lakh given as loan two years ago to a jeweller in Karumathampatti on the city outskrits.

Kumar, 44, running a power loom unit in Karumathampatti, had come along with son Rithishkumar to the SP office and suddenly poured kerosene on himself and his son’s body.

However, police overpowered him, before he could light a match stick and admitted the duo to the Government Hospital, police said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that he had given Rs 10 lakh as loan to a jeweler, Mohanraj, in 2015. The amount had not been returned despite several requests, police said.

Mohanraj threatened to lodge a usury complaint with the police, Kumar said, adding that the police had advised him to negotiate a deal with Mohanraj.

It was in the backdrop of not knowing what turn things would take that he attempted immolation, he said.