Pandit, a jeweller, who had lent Rs 1.5 lakh to Purushottam Chotelal Patel of Vara village against promissory notes about a year ago, filed a case in the district court here when Patel did not return money.

This enraged Patel, who with seven other people walked into Pandit's house on Sunday afternoon to threaten him, the police said. While two persons stayed back in the vehicles, the six accused called Pandit out of the house. One of the accused, who identified himself as Kumar Pillai, slapped Pandit and threatened to kill him if he did not withdraw the case against Patel, the police added.

Though Pandit had been threatened on telephone soon after filing of the case, he had not reported the matter because he did not take the threat too seriously, the police said.

A case under Sections 452, 143, 144, 147, 148 and 506 IPC has been registered against the accused.