Two unidentified men threatened a deputy passport officer and made away with his gold ring after deliberately picking up a quarrel with him on Velachery High Road on Wednesday night.

At 6.20 pm on Tuesday, two men intercepted Rukmangathan, deputy passport officer, who was going home on his scooter.

“I halted when one of the two stopped my vehicle and started abusing me, claiming that I had deliberately hit his bike and damaged the number plate,” Rukmangathan said.

Before he could realise the problem, they asked him to pay Rs 3,000 to repair their bike. They also threatened him with dire consequences if he did not give the money.

The victim could not note down the number as they had bent the number plate.

“As I don’t usually use a mobile, I was unable to call any of my friends for help. Many vehicles passed by but I could not seek anybody’s help as I was clueless about the accident,” Rukmangathan said.

When Rukmangathan said that he did not possess enough cash, the two snatched his gold ring weighing two sovereigns and asked him to take it back after giving the money, said a police officer.

The passport officer, who brought the money from his house in Madipakkam, was shocked to see the two missing.

Based on Rukmangathan’s complaint, police registered a case and have launched a hunt for the accused.