A software engineer was killed in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore after she was run over by an 18-year-old boy in a car in a housing society over a dispute over the use of a house on rent, police said on Thursday (March 26, 2026).
According to the police, the incident took place on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) around 10:30 pm in Shiv Vatika Township under Lasudia Police Station following an argument between Kuldeep Chaudhary, the owner of the house, and some residents after which his son Mohnish Chaudhary attacked them and passers-by with his car.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (AKT), Vijay Nagar, Parag Saini told The Hindu that the two accused were arrested late on Wednesday night and booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 103(1) (Punishment for murder) and 109(1) (attempt to murder).
The deceased was identified as Shampa Pathak, 42, who works in a private IT company and had shifted to the company about 15 days ago, while another woman, Raanu Rawat, wife of a company security guard, sustained injuries in the incident while she was out for a walk. Mrs. Pandey is survived by her husband and children.
Mr. Saini said that Mr. Kuldeep Chaudhary owns a penthouse in the company that was listed on AirBNB for rental purposes, but other residents objected.
“The defendant does not live there himself, but on Wednesday, when he came to the association, he learned that the electricity on his property had been disconnected. In retaliation, he disconnected the electricity supply to the entire building, which led to arguments with other residents,” he said.
“During the argument, he called his son and said, ‘Let’s deal with them today’. After that, the boy came in his car and attacked those who had gathered outside the building,” Mr Saini said, adding that the boy did two quick laps of the building before breaking through the gate and running away.
CCTV footage of the incident has surfaced online showing a white car charging into the crowd. While Ms. Rawat was hit by the car in the first round, the car quickly came back and ran over Ms. Pandey even as the occupants tried to escape.
Mr Saini said Ms Pandey was immediately rushed to a Mumbai hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
He said that Mr. Mohnish Chaudhary had just turned 18 on March 20 and was preparing for competitive exams after completing school. His father works as a chief electrical engineer in a private company, AKT added.
“The father and son did not attempt to flee very far and were apprehended from the township premises within hours. During questioning, they still have a very aggressive mindset and it appears that the father encouraged that mindset in his young son. He still defends his actions,” Saini said.
Ms Pandey’s husband, Saurabh Pandey, said they were not even part of the dispute initially and only came downstairs after the power was disconnected.
“When I asked him (Mr Kuldeep Chaudhary) about it, he agreed to cut our power. This led to some arguments and he abused all of us. Then he called his son who also started abusing everyone,” he said.
“While we were talking about calling the police and the management of the company, the boy left there and drove his car at a speed of about 60-70 kmph across the campus. He first hit our domestic help and a few other people. Then he did another round and hit my wife as she was leaving,” Mr Pandey said, adding that his wife died of a brain haemorrhage.
He said the residents of the society had raised the issue of commercial operations in the penthouse earlier and had even lodged a complaint with the local municipal councilor and the police.
Published – 27 March 2026 01:03 IST
