Chennai police on Sunday filed a case against the owner and manager of a restaurant in Nungambakkam after they continued to serve customers during the wee hours despite warnings from the police.

Reportedly, an eatery - Woodfired was open around 1:30am and youngsters were seen standing in front of the restaurant with their parked vehicles. 

A senior police officer was passing through Mahalingapuram when he found that the parked vehicles were obstructing traffic, reported The New Indian Express.

After this, other police officials reached the spot and asked all the youngsters to leave from the place. 

The officer said that they had warned the restaurant manager to close the eatery as the place was unsafe for customers in view of increasing incidents of chain snatching in the city.

When the manager, S Sampath, refused to close the restaurant, police filed a case of public nuisance against him and the owner of the restaurant, Ashok.

The police officer said that on Thursday also, a man had lost Rs. 1500 and as a precautionary measure, they had asked the hotel to shut down early so that the customers do not become victims of chain snatching.

The Times of India reported that a sub-inspector in the patrol team abused the people, including women outside the restaurant, a witness said. 

Police also chased away some of the youngsters using lathis, the witness added.