A Japan-based non-resident Indian (NRI) businessman was attacked inside a cab on his way to a hotel from the airport here in the wee hours yesterday, police said.

Sanjay Mehrotra, who is a senior functionary of an Indo-Japan trade body, had arrived at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport late on Wednesday night and was received by two people sent by a person known to him.

En route to the hotel, the duo turned on Mehrotra, who somehow managed to jump out of the cab. He was rescued by a police patrol party that spotted him with injuries to his head and hands.

Police said the attack was premeditated and was a result of personal enmity between Mehrotra and one Jairam Singh Yadav, whom the former had met in Thailand. Yadav apparently sent hired hands to avoid having to return a loan he had taken from Mehrotra.

The businessman was pursuing investment proposals relating to a yoga school here and was to meet senior state ministers and leaders of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist. One of the assailants was identified as P. Mahi, police said.

"When I arrived at the airport, I found that the hotel car was not there. I was told that my accommodation had been booked at the Park Hotel. The attackers said the car's tyre was punctured and asked me to board a taxi. They attacked me inside the cab," Mehrotra said.

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