Workplace Argument Turns Deadly in South Mumbai
A horrific incident of workplace violence unfolded in Mumbai's Girgaon area when a 22-year-old man allegedly killed his colleague using a wooden stool and fire extinguisher during a heated argument. The tragic event occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 18, 2025, leaving one dead and the other on the run.
Victim and Accused Details
The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Hajaji Chaudhary, aged 39, who originally hailed from Dhanora Taluka in Banaskantha district of Gujarat. The accused, Suraj Sanjay Mandal, aged 22, comes from Bihar and had been working with Chaudhary for approximately three months.
According to police investigations, both men were employed at a steel shop in Khetwadi area at Girgaon. The shop owner had recently expanded into trading business and established an office on the first floor of the same building where his shop was located. This shared workspace became their living quarters as well, with both men residing together on the first floor.
The Fatal Confrontation
The deadly altercation took place between 1:30 AM and 2:00 AM when Mandal and Chaudhary engaged in a heated argument over an unresolved issue. During the physical scuffle that followed, Mandal allegedly picked up a wooden stool and repeatedly struck Chaudhary on the head. Not stopping there, he then used a fire extinguisher to deliver further blows to Chaudhary's head.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohit Garg from zone 2 confirmed that Chaudhary suffered severe head injuries and lost significant amount of blood, which ultimately proved fatal. Mandal immediately fled the crime scene after committing the act, leaving his colleague bleeding on the floor.
Discovery and Police Response
The crime remained undiscovered until 11:00 AM when the shop owner arrived and found the shop unusually closed. Upon opening the premises, he made the grisly discovery of Chaudhary's body lying in a pool of blood on the first floor.
Police were immediately alerted, and a team from Girgaon police station rushed to the spot. They conducted a thorough panchnama (spot examination) and transported the body to a hospital for post-mortem examination. The police have formed multiple teams to track down the absconding accused.
Authorities have informed Chaudhary's family, who reside in his native village in Gujarat. The exact motive behind the violent argument remains unclear, and investigators stated that the complete picture will only emerge once Mandal is apprehended.
This incident highlights the serious consequences of workplace conflicts turning violent and has raised concerns about employee safety in shared living and working spaces.
