Dispute over Rs 600 leaves nine with acid burn injuries in Malad

Everyone at the scene received acid burns. PICS/by SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A petty dispute over Rs 600 escalated into a horrifying incident in Pal Nagar, Kurar, Malad East on Wednesday afternoon, leaving eight to nine people injured with acid burns.

What transpired

A financial disagreement between a family dealing with imitation jewellery and a workshop owner spiralled out of control, leading to a heated argument. The situation worsened when a group barged into the plating workshop.

Workshop owner Samar Bahadur Singh

During the chaos, the workshop owner picked up a container of acid used for polishing imitation jewellery and attempted to throw it at the other group. In the struggle that followed, acid spilt out of the container, injuring nearly everyone present with acid burns.

Senior Police Inspector Umesh Patil confirmed that all those injured are receiving treatment, and an investigation is underway.

Background of dispute

Singh runs a plating workshop for imitation jewellery. The Kanojia family, who deal in imitation jewellery, used his services. During an online transaction of Rs 26,000, an amount of Rs 27,000 was mistakenly transferred. After deducting Rs 400 as labour charges, Rs 600 was to be returned, triggering the dispute.

How it escalated

Sheetal Kanojia visited the workshop to demand the amount when the argument broke out. Later, her son, Mayur Kanojia, returned with friends, and the dispute turned violent. During the scuffle, acid spilt from the container, injuring everyone involved.

Police arrest three

Samar Bahadur Singh, 38 (workshop owner)
Hemant Rathod, 20
Nitin Dhobi, 24

Police action

>> Cross FIRs registered against both groups
>> Three accused arrested, more under investigation
>> Injured admitted to hospitals; condition reported stable