A 32-year-old factory worker was killed after being hit and dragged for approximately 600 metres by a car allegedly driven by a 16-year-old boy in north Delhi’s Samaypur Badli area. The shocking incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, has prompted widespread outrage and a police investigation into possible foul play.

The deceased, identified as Sujeet Mandal, lived in Raja Vihar and was employed at a PVC pipe manufacturing unit in the Badli Industrial Area. He had reportedly left work around 7 pm when a red Hyundai i10 collided with him on an internal road. The impact was so severe that Sujeet became stuck under the vehicle and was dragged along the road.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Hareshwar, a passerby informed police after seeing a severely injured man lying by the roadside. Officers reached the location and found the victim already deceased, with significant injuries across his body and torn clothing. A pair of black slippers and blood samples were recovered from the scene for forensic examination.

CCTV Footage of the Incident Recovered

CCTV footage from nearby surveillance cameras played a crucial role in piecing together the incident. Video evidence showed the moment the victim was hit, trapped under the front of the vehicle, and dragged. A cyclist was seen attempting to alert the driver during the ordeal. “The chilling footage shows the victim, Sujeet Mandal, trapped under the car after it knocks him down. A cyclist is seen alerting the boy, but he drives on till the body comes off from under the car, and then speeds off,” an eyewitness account noted.

Investigators traced the vehicle using its registration number captured on video. Within six hours of the accident, police located the red car at a residence in Mondoli and detained the teenager involved, who is a resident of Rohini. The minor was taken into custody and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board, while the vehicle was seized as evidence.

In his statement, the 16-year-old told police that he had taken the car from a mechanic’s workshop and was driving when he made a sudden turn, leading to the collision. He also claimed he panicked and fled the scene fearing an attack from onlookers. “The minor claimed he fled the scene as he was scared that a crowd might attack him,” said a police officer familiar with the case.

Case Registered

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and further investigation is in progress. Both the site of the crash and the location where Sujeet’s body was found near the NDPL office, gate number 5, were examined by forensic teams.

However, the case took a dramatic turn after Sujeet’s family came forward with serious allegations. They suspect that the incident may have been intentional. “Sujeet’s body was in a terrible condition; one of his eyes was missing. This cannot just be an accident,” his relatives said. They also mentioned that he had received threats from individuals at his workplace. A formal murder complaint has been submitted by the family, urging police to explore all possible motives.

The tragedy has drawn comparisons to another horrific case from January 2023, where a woman was killed after being dragged for over 11 kilometres by a car in Sultanpuri. That incident had similarly sparked widespread public outrage and demands for stricter enforcement against reckless and underage driving.