Father sets son ablaze, arrested in Bengaluru

Arpit had also joined his father’s business where he allegedly ran into losses worth over ₹1.5 crore; this had been the source of conflict between the father and son.

In a shocking incident, a father allegedly set ablaze his son over a business dispute. Arpit Kumar, 25, who battled third degree burns for a week, succumbed on Thursday.

CCTV camera footage of the gory incident has gone viral, sending shockwaves in the city. Chamarajpet police have arrested his father Surendra Kumar and booked him for murder. 

Surendra Kumar’s family ran a lorry finance business, and they later diversified into construction and paints. His son Arpit Kumar had also joined the business, and allegedly ran into losses worth over ₹1.5 crore. This had been the source of conflict between the father and son.

On April 1 afternoon, around 2:30 p.m., the two were heard having a bitter tiff in the office, said complainant Ambareesh, a lorry driver who had taken finance from Surendra Kumar and was an eyewitness to the incident. 

“Suddenly, we saw Arpit run out of the office and his father following him out and kept on scolding his son. Arpit Kumar was drenched in liquid and Surendra Kumar had a match box. He lit a match and threw it at his son, but it missed him. Even as Arpit kept screaming at his father not to do so, Surendra Kumar lit another match and took it near his son’s hand. Arpit was soon engulfed by the fire. He ran around, screaming for help. We soon put out the fire and rushed him to the hospital,” said Ambareesh in his complaint.

Arpit Kumar had suffered third degree burns and was battling for his life for the past one week. However, he died on Thursday, following which Ambareesh lodged a complaint with the police. Chamarajpet police arrested Surendra Kumar.