An Indian man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was allegedly attacked by four men and set on fire in Melbourne’s north-west overnight.

The 29-year-old was taken to hospital with burns to 15 per cent of his body after the attack shortly before 2am in Essendon. Police were told the man had dropped his wife at home and gone to park his car after a dinner party when he was set upon in Grice Crescent.Police allege that as the man was getting out of the car, four men attacked him, pushing him back against the vehicle and pouring an unknown fluid on him.

One of the men then ignited the fluid with a lighter before all four men fled, police said.The victim allegedly ran from the car while peeling off his clothes.He suffered burns to his arms, chest and face.

Last night's attack comes a week after the stabbing death of 21-year-old Indian graduate Nitin Garg in a Yarraville park.A police spokeswoman said investigators did not yet know of any motive or circumstances surrounding the Essendon attack.

At a press conference earlier today, Detective acting Senior Sergeant Neil Smyth said "we are investigating all possibilities but early indication show it was not racially motivated".The incident is being investigated by the arson and explosives squad.Police this afternoon appealed for public assistance to locate the victim's clothes, which he shed as he fled the scene.The man is in a stable condition in The Alfred hospital.