Indore horror: Techie killed as man rams car into residents amid penthouse dispute

INDORE: A dispute over the commercial use of a penthouse in a residential society turned fatal in Indore after a man allegedly rammed his car into a group of residents, killing a woman and injuring others in Sagar Township under the Lasudia police station late on Wednesday.

Police said the accused, Mohit Choudhary, allegedly drove the car into a group of residents during a heated argument. His father, Kuldeep Choudhary, was also present in the vehicle. Both have been taken into custody.

The deceased has been identified as Shampa Pathak (Pandey), a software engineer. She had recently moved into the flat on March 13 with her husband, Saurabh, and their two children.

Investigators said the confrontation stemmed from ongoing objections by residents over the use of two penthouses in the building for short-term rentals through an online application.

Residents had been opposing the commercial activity, citing frequent movement of outsiders and security concerns within the residential premises.

Attempts were made earlier this week to resolve the issue, including intervention by a local councillor, but tensions remained unresolved. On Wednesday night, the disagreement escalated again, culminating in the accused allegedly losing control and driving into the crowd.

Police rushed to the spot after receiving information and shifted the injured to a private hospital, where doctors declared Pathak dead. The entire sequence of events was captured on CCTV cameras installed in the building, which are now part of the investigation.

“A case has been registered and the accused have been arrested. We are recording statements to ascertain the exact sequence of events,” said Additional DCP Amrendra Singh.