A prominent Ludhiana businessman was crushed to death by a former employee who used a getaway vehicle to run over his former boss during an alleged warehouse robbery. The incident, which has sparked controversy over police charges, occurred on Tuesday, December 24.
Confrontation Turns Fatal at Warehouse
The victim, Kailash Patel, 48, was the owner of a successful ice-cream and catering enterprise. The fatal encounter took place at his warehouse in Sunrise Colony. According to the victim's son, Lakshman Kumar, the family received information that a former employee, identified as Sushil Kumar, was looting the godown.
The accused had reportedly been fired just two weeks earlier following a heated dispute. "The accused was loading goods from the warehouse into his pick-up vehicle," Lakshman Kumar told police. "As soon as we got the information, my father and I reached the spot."
Family Alleges Deliberate Killing, Police Differ
The situation turned deadly when Kailash Patel attempted to block the vehicle to prevent the theft of catering equipment, which included several large industrial drums. The complainant alleges that instead of stopping, the accused accelerated to high speed, driving directly over Patel before fleeing the area.
Patel was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was declared dead on arrival. While Patel's family insists the act was a deliberate and retaliatory "crushing" intended to kill, local police have registered the case as death by negligence, not murder. This distinction has drawn sharp criticism from the grieving relatives.
Investigation Underway, Accused Still at Large
ASI Dharaminder Singh, head of the Basant Avenue police post, confirmed an investigation is in progress. "The accused allegedly tried to forcibly take away materials from the warehouse when the incident occurred," he stated. "We have registered a case following an initial inquiry."
The family argues that the history of the dispute and the deliberate nature of the getaway point to a pre-meditated act of violence. Despite their protests, the current charges under the Indian Penal Code focus on "causing death by negligence." The accused, Sushil Kumar, remains at large as the police continue their search.
