'Ever seen what a widow looks like?': Accused's chilling threat to Tech Mahindra's ex-APAC head before murder

A parking dispute between neighbours in Faridabad allegedly escalated into a fatal shooting on Friday night, hours after the accused had threatened to kill former Tech Mahindra executive Paramjeet Dhankhar at a police post, where the victim had gone to lodge a complaint.

“I will not leave you alive by tonight,” Monu Sharma allegedly told Dhankhar during the confrontation at the police post. Later that night, Sharma allegedly called Dhankhar to the parking area of their residential locality in Sector 21C and opened fire at him with a licensed pistol.

Police officials said Sharma fired around 15 rounds, nine of which struck Dhankhar, killing him at the spot. His son, Shaurya, who was also allegedly targeted during the attack, survived.


The 45-year-old had returned to India from Singapore on Thursday to celebrate Diwali with his family and attend his nephew's wedding. Police have arrested Sharma, the main accused in the case.

Parking dispute allegedly escalated into shooting

The killing followed a prolonged dispute between the two neighbours, with the immediate trigger reportedly being damage to a gate in the parking area.

According to police sources quoted by news agency PTI, Dhankhar's son, Shaurya, had confronted Sharma over the damaged gate and asked him to arrange for its repair.

Sharma allegedly replied: “I don’t talk to pups; send your father.”

After learning about the exchange, Dhankhar went to the Ankhir police chowki to file a complaint against his neighbour, sources said, as quoted by PTI.

Sharma was subsequently summoned to the police post, where he allegedly threatened to kill Dhankhar that night in the presence of officials. Despite the warning, the two parties were reportedly helped to reach a compromise, with officials apparently treating the threat as an empty warning, according to sources.

Accused allegedly threatened victim again before opening fire

On Friday night, Sharma allegedly called Dhankhar to the parking area, ostensibly to resolve the dispute.

Instead, he allegedly issued another threat before shooting at him.

“Have you ever seen what a widow looks like? You have such great faith in God; let me send you straight to him," Sharma allegedly told Dhankhar.

He then opened fire, targeting Dhankhar and his son, police officials said. Nine bullets hit the former executive, who died at the scene.

Sharma allegedly fled with his family after the shooting. Police reached the spot after receiving information from Shaurya and recovered cartridge shells from the scene.

Former regional business head at Tech Mahindra

Dhankhar was a senior vice-president at Singapore-based FPT Software Company Ltd. He had earlier served as the regional business head of Tech Mahindra's Asia-Pacific operations.

He had travelled back to India a day before the incident to spend Diwali with his family and attend his nephew's wedding.

Friends of Dhankhar alleged that the killing could have been prevented had the police taken Sharma into custody after he threatened the victim at the police post earlier that day.

Residents allegedly lived in fear of accused

Police sources told PTI that Sharma owned a plot near house number 641 and frequently caused disturbances at night with his friends.

“He also owned several luxury cars, which he would drive at high speeds and with loud, revving engines through the sector's streets,” a source said.

The accused allegedly played loud music late into the night and frequently fired shots into the air, sources said, as quoted by PTI. Residents were reportedly troubled by his conduct but were reluctant to confront him. They also claimed they did not know what Sharma did for a living.

Sources further told PTI that Sharma had allegedly faced accusations of GST evasion around a year ago, following which the GST department conducted a raid at his premises.

Investigators also found that Sharma allegedly possessed two licensed pistols. He had three pistols in his possession at the time of the shooting, according to sources.

Five members of accused's family named in FIR

Police registered a case following a complaint by Dhankhar's son, Shaurya. The FIR names Sharma, also known as Mohan, along with his wife Divya, son Mayank, daughter Naina and brother Hetram.

“Based on the complaint of Paramjeet's son Shaurya, a case has been registered against Monu Sharma alias Mohan, his wife Divya, son Mayank, daughter Naina, and brother Hetram. Paramjeet's body has been sent to the civil hospital for a post-mortem. We have arrested the main accused, Monu Sharma, and are questioning him,” Surajkund SHO Prahlad Singh said.

Police are questioning Sharma as part of the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from PTI)