INDORE: An 18-year-old boy allegedly drove his car into a group of residents inside a township in Indore on Wednesday night, killing a software engineer and injuring several others, following a violent dispute over the use of a penthouse rented via Airbnb.
The victim, Shampa Pathak Pandey, had recently moved into Shiv Vatika Township with her husband Saurabh, their two young sons, and her in-laws earlier this month.
According to police and residents, tensions had been simmering over the commercial use of a penthouse in the Sagarshree Enclave building. Locals had objected to the frequent movement of outsiders, including tourists and groups, in what they said was a residential complex.
The situation escalated on Wednesday night when some residents allegedly cut off electricity to the penthouse. In retaliation, its owner, Kuldeep Choudhary, reportedly switched off power to other flats, sparking a heated confrontation that quickly turned violent.
During the altercation, Kuldeep’s son, Mohnish, allegedly assaulted several residents. Witnesses said he attacked one person and pulled out a chunk of his hair. As tensions rose, residents restrained him and shut the building gates to prevent him from leaving.
Police said Mohnish then got into a car with his mother and drove into the crowd—twice.
He first hit the wife of a security guard before driving towards Shampa and her husband. While Saurabh managed to escape, Shampa was struck and thrown onto the bonnet. The car continued moving and crashed into a wall, leaving her trapped between the vehicle and the structure with severe head injuries.
She was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
“The accused could have stopped the car but chose not to. After hitting my wife once, he did not brake and instead ran over her,” Saurabh alleged.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Parag Saini said a case of murder and attempted murder has been registered against Kuldeep and Mohnish. Police have seized CCTV footage and are also examining visitor records linked to the Airbnb listing as part of the investigation.
