Mumbai: Fight over ‘work efficiency’ lands staffer in ICU

A beach picnic turned violent after an alcohol-fuelled argument between friends escalated into a brutal stabbing. Four friends, all working as cybersecurity analysts, had gone to Gorai beach for an outing when two of them, after a bout of drinking, began quarrelling over who was more efficient at work.

The dispute was settled, and the group left for home in two separate vehicles. The victim, Pranav Rajhans, 27, and the accused Vinod Rajpurohit, 30, were travelling in the same vehicle. When they stopped at a petrol pump in Uttan in the early hours of Sunday, Rajpurohit, under the pretext of hugging Rajhans to make up for the quarrel, came close and stabbed him multiple times with a sharp object. Rajpurohit then fled with Rajhans’ vehicle.

Pranav Rajhans taken to hospital in a bloodied condition

According to police sources, Rajhans, originally from Ahmednagar, is residing in the Kanakia area of Mira Road. He works as a cybersecurity analyst at a private firm in Andheri. On the night of April 25, three of his colleagues—Rajpurohit (a resident of Pune), Pragyesh Parekh, 26 (a resident of Badlapur), and Ram Pable, 20 (from Nashik), visited his home. They discussed visiting a nearby beach and decided to head to Gorai.

“Rajhans took out his Thar jeep and set off with Rajpurohit, while Parekh and Pable travelled in a WagonR. They ate food and consumed alcohol at a hotel near Gorai beach. Around 5 am, they decided to leave. Rajpurohit was driving the Thar jeep, with Rajhans seated beside him. On the way, Rajpurohit stopped at an HP petrol pump in Uttan to refuel, but the pump was closed,” said a police officer.

After a while, Rajpurohit stepped out of the jeep. Seeing this, Rajhans also got down and began walking toward their friends standing near the WagonR. In his statement to the police, Rajhans said Rajpurohit approached him under the pretext of hugging him. However, while embracing him, Rajpurohit suddenly pulled out a sharp object from his pocket and attacked Rajhans, stabbing him multiple times in the shoulder, stomach, and side. After the assault, Rajpurohit quickly got into the jeep and fled the scene. Seeing this, Parekh fled in the WagonR while Pable stayed behind to help Rajhans. He managed to flag an auto-rickshaw and took him to a hospital for treatment.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Rajpurohit and Rajhans had a heated argument while drinking over who was more capable. 

“However, the matter was initially settled, and they decided to return home,” said the officer.

Following the incident, the Uttan police have registered a case of attempt to murder under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), based on Rajhans’ complaint. 

A manhunt has been launched to trace Rajpurohit, under the guidance of senior officers, said Investigating Officer API Dattatre Sonawalkar of Uttan police station.
Meanwhile, Rajhans’ condition remains critical. He is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi General Hospital.

5 am
Approx. time Pranav Rajhans was stabbed