RANCHI: In a shocking incident that has stunned the local community, a heated argument over money turned deadly when a man deliberately ran over his friend with his Thar Roxx vehicle. Ranchi police swiftly arrested the accused, Atul Chaddha alias Ayush Kumar, following the gruesome murder near Durga Temple in South Railway Colony.
The victim, Dharmendra Kumar, aged 40, shared a long-standing friendship with the 32-year-old accused. However, recent disputes over financial transactions had soured their relationship. Tensions boiled over during a housewarming ceremony at Amravati Colony on Wednesday night. What started as verbal sparring quickly escalated into a full-blown confrontation filled with abuses.
Eyewitnesses report that in a fit of rage, Chaddha jumped into his black Thar Roxx SUV and accelerated towards Kumar, crushing him under the wheels. The vehicle also struck six bystanders standing nearby, leaving them injured. Local residents rushed the victims to nearby hospitals, but Kumar succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His body was sent to RIMS for postmortem.
Among the injured are Annapurna Naidu (50), Kunal Naidu (26), Sandeep Mahato (40), Amit Singh (35), and Prashant Gaurav. Two of them remain in critical condition, battling for life.
Acting on a complaint from the victim’s father, Ramashray Sharma, Chutia police station registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 109(1) for murder, 103(1), and 61(2). A rapid response team recovered the crime vehicle and the accused’s mobile phone from his possession.
Police revealed that Chaddha has a history of criminal involvement, with prior cases against him. Investigations continue to uncover more details about the motive and any accomplices. This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of how personal grudges can lead to irreversible consequences, prompting calls for better conflict resolution in communities.