South Delhi road rage: Techie stabs man to death in parking row, injures friend

NEW DELHI: In an apparent case of road rage, a software engineer was arrested on Friday for allegedly stabbing a man to death and injuring his friend during a parking and right-of-way dispute in south Delhi's Aya Nagar.

Police said they received information about the incident on Feb 20 from Haryana Police, who reported that one person had been declared dead on arrival and another admitted with stab injuries at a Gurgaon hospital. Since the crime took place in Aya Nagar, Delhi Police took over the investigation.


A preliminary probe found that the two men were returning late at night from a DJ function in Dera village. Around midnight, near Ganpati Garden in Aya Nagar, they encountered a car allegedly parked in a manner that blocked their path. The men, travelling in a mini-truck carrying DJ equipment, asked the driver to move his vehicle. "The car driver said they could pass, but the truck driver insisted there was not enough space," an officer said.

An argument broke out between the two sides over the parking position and right of way. According to police, the altercation escalated and the car driver allegedly pulled out a knife and attacked both men.

The injured were taken to a hospital in Gurgaon, where one of them — identified as Sandeep Lohia, 38 — died. His friend, Rishi, suffered stab wounds and is undergoing treatment. Police said he is stable and out of danger.

Investigators launched a search for the car driver. The accused, identified as Ravi, 32, a resident of Sonipat, was arrested. Police said he works as an engineer at a private company in Gurgaon and had reportedly come to Aya Nagar to attend a wedding. "The accused claimed he was slapped, which prompted him to take out the knife. We are verifying his statement," police added.

The investigators said they suspect the accused may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time. "His blood sample has been sent for examination," an officer said. The knife allegedly used in the attack has been seized.

A case has been registered under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 109(1) (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Fatehpur Beri police station.