A deeply disturbing incident caught on CCTV has triggered outrage across Maharashtra after footage showed a 12-year-old boy being assaulted, slapped, and even bitten inside a lift by a man identified as Kailash Thawani. The incident occurred on July 4 at around 5 PM at the Patel Xenon Housing Project in Palegaon, Ambernath.

Boy Attacked for Not Holding Lift Door

According to reports, the child, Tyagi Panday, was heading to his classes when the attack took place. He took the lift from the 14th floor, which then stopped at the 9th floor. Finding no one outside, he attempted to close the door — at which point the man suddenly entered and began to assault him. “Uncle entered the lift, he didn’t say anything and just started beating me. When I asked him why he was beating me, he bit me and said, ‘Tu mujhe bahar mil, main tujhe chaaku se maardunga’ (Meet me outside, I’ll stab you with a knife),” the boy recounted.

Horrific CCTV Footage Goes Viral

The brutal attack was recorded on a CCTV camera installed inside the lift. The footage, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Thawani repeatedly slapping the child, threatening him, and even biting his hand. The boy’s father stated, “He beat him till the lift reached the ground floor and the thrashing continued till the lobby. The watchman tried to intervene. My son is barely 12–13 years old, and this man threatened to stab him.”

A female housekeeper present in the lift tried to intervene by stopping at the ground floor. However, the man followed the child into the lobby and continued the attack until security guards and other residents stepped in to stop him.

Delayed Police Response Draws Criticism

Following the incident, the child’s mother approached Shivaji Nagar Police Station to file a complaint. Initially, the police registered only a non-cognizable offence. It wasn’t until four days later — after intense protests from the family — that a First Information Report (FIR) was finally registered. The family has also alleged that police inaction may be due to the accused being shielded by local influence.

DCP Sachin Gore told IANS, “An incident has surfaced where a 12-year-old minor was brutally beaten inside a lift in a housing society in the Palegaon area of Ambernath. The assault was captured on the lift’s CCTV camera. Following the incident, a case has been registered against the accused at Shivajinagar Police Station in Ambernath.”

Accused Allegedly Angered Over Lift Delay

Sources suggest that Thawani was reportedly enraged because the boy did not hold the lift for him on the 14th floor. The CCTV footage captures the boy attempting to close the lift door when Thawani storms in and begins the unprovoked attack. “The truck just fell into the water. I came out from my side… Later, someone came and pulled me out in a boat,” said the boy’s father while recalling how helpless his son felt during the attack.

Call for Swift Action

As the video continues to circulate online, pressure is mounting on law enforcement authorities to take strict action against the accused. Despite the FIR, there have been no reports of an arrest at the time of writing.