‘Residents cut power to Airbnb penthouse’: What happened moments before teen rammed car into crowd, killing techie

INDORE: An 18-year-old boy ploughed his car into a group of residents of a township in Indore, killing a woman software engineer and injuring several others on Wednesday night, after a violent clash between his family and other residents over the commercial use of his parents' penthouse, rented out through Airbnb.

The deceased, Shampa Pathak Pandey, had moved into Shiv Vatika Township with her husband, Saurabh, their sons, aged 7 and 10, and her parents-in-law on March 13. Saurabh said that the dispute was brewing among residents over the penthouse in Sagarshree Enclave building.

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Residents had objected to the frequent movement of outsiders, foreigners, couples, and youngsters on the residential premises, police said.

On Wednesday night, tensions flared after some residents allegedly switched off the electricity supply to the penthouse, prompting its owner Kuldeep Choudhary to come downstairs and retaliate by cutting power to other flats. This triggered an argument that soon turned violent.

Kuldeep called his wife and their 18-year-old son, Mohnish, to the spot. Meanwhile, Mohnish attacked one of the residents and ripped out a chunk of his hair. He also assaulted a few others.


The residents restrained Mohnish, who was trying to flee. When they shut the gates of the building, he jumped into his car with his mother and slammed it into the residents twice. First, he hit the wife of a guard present there and then drove towards Shampa and Saurabh. While Saurabh managed to escape, Shampa was hit and thrown onto the bonnet. As the vehicle continued moving before hitting a wall, she came between the car and the wall, sustaining critical head injuries. She was rushed to Bombay Hospital, where she died.

"The accused could have stopped the car but chose not to. After hitting my wife once, Mohnish did not hit the brakes and instead ran over her," Sourabh said.

ACP Parag Saini said that a case of murder and attempted murder has been registered against Kuldeep and Mohnish. Police have taken CCTV cameras DVR into custody. Investigators are also examining details of visitors who were accessing the penthouse through Airbnb.