Caught on CCTV: Ghaziabad resident trapped, thrashed inside lift over society fund row

GHAZIABAD: A dispute over alleged financial irregularities in a housing society turned violent after a resident allegedly assaulted the society's former treasurer inside a lift at GH-7 Society in the Crossing Republik police station area on Wednesday morning. The incident, captured on the lift's CCTV camera, has gone viral on social media. According to police, the incident took place around 7am. The accused, identified as Prahlad Kumar, allegedly punched and kicked Deepak Chopra, the former treasurer of the society's Apartment Owners Association (AOA), inside the lift. Chopra later lodged a complaint with the police. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Priyashree Pal said Deepak Chopra, a resident of Tower 8 in GH-7 Society, was returning to his flat after dropping his children at the school bus. “During this time, the accused, Prahlad Kumar, who also resides in Tower 8, entered the same lift after dropping his children at the school bus. The two had an argument over the society fund and accused each other of corruption. It is alleged that Prahlad Kumar assaulted Deepak Chopra with kicks and punches and continued beating him for about three minutes,” the ACP said. She added that Chopra filed a complaint at Crossing Republik police station, following which Prahlad Kumar was taken into custody. An FIR has been registered against him under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway. 4-minute CCTV video goes viral The nearly four-minute CCTV footage of the incident has gone viral on social media. The video shows Chopra standing inside the lift, using his mobile phone, when a woman enters. Moments later, Prahlad Kumar boards the lift. As an argument breaks out between the two men, the woman exits the lift. The footage allegedly shows Prahlad Kumar shutting the lift doors before attacking Chopra. He is seen repeatedly punching and kicking Chopra for nearly three minutes.