KOLKATA: A Japan-based NRI businessman was attacked inside a cab on his way to a city hotel from the airport in the wee hours of Thursday, police said.

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

But on the way to the hotel, they attacked Mehrotra in his head and hands. He somehow jumped out of the cab. He was spotted by a police patrol party and rescued.

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 wanted to kill him so that he did not have to pay back the money he had taken from Mehrotra.

Mehrotra had come with some investment proposals for a yoga school here and was supposed to meet some senior state ministers and leaders of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

One of the assailants in the car 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 has been booked in the Park hotel. The attackers said the car's tyre has deflated and asked me to board a taxi. Later they attacked me inside the cab," Mehrotra said.