Santacruz Road Rage Leads to Death of 40-Year-Old; Husband and Wife Arrested for Murder

Mumbai:Om Prakash Sharma, a 40-year-old man, succumbed to his injuries on March 19, following a road rage incident that took place on March 16 in the Golibar area of Santacruz East. The couple involved in the incident, Ahmed Ansari (26) and Aman Ansari (24), have been arrested on charges of murder.

Sharma, a carpenter, was returning from Omega Wine Shop with his friend Rajmangal Gupta when the incident occurred around 4:30 pm on March 16. As they were passing by Sheth Chimanlal Nathuram High School, Ahmed Ansari, riding a high-speed scooter with his wife, suddenly came in front of Sharma. In response, Sharma jokingly remarked, “Are you driving a helicopter?” This comment angered Ansari and his wife. They stopped their scooter, confronted Sharma, and a verbal altercation ensued.

During the confrontation, Ansari allegedly picked up a cement block and struck Sharma on the head. Gupta and nearby bystanders intervened, but Ansari’s wife also reportedly pushed Gupta. The couple then fled the scene on their scooter. Gupta rushed Sharma to VN Desai Hospital in Santacruz East, where he received initial treatment and was advised to rest at home. However, the next day, on March 17, Sharma collapsed while passing Santacruz Gymkhana. His friends, Sachin Jadhav and Deepak Sharma, immediately took him back to the hospital. Doctors admitted him to the ICU, diagnosing a severe head injury.

Sharma passed away on March 19. His brother filed a complaint against the couple at Vakola Police Station. Initially, a case was registered under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), but after Sharma's death, Section 302 (murder) was added. Police arrested Ahmed Ansari, and he was remanded to custody until March 21.

Ahmed Ansari, a painter, resides in Bandra West. His wife’s parents live near Sharma’s residence. The police have confirmed that there was no prior dispute between the accused and the deceased.