NEW DELHI: A man set his friend ablaze in outer Delhi’s Alipur on Friday for refusing to turn over his property to him. Vikram (35) poured petrol on 36-year-old Rajeev, a resident of Hiranki village, and then threw a lit matchstick. Rajeev, who received 95% burn injuries, is not expected to survive. The incident took place at Alipur bus stand around 10pm.

Both the culprit and his victim had been drinking alcohol together prior to the incident. However, they had started having an argument over a plot of land, police said.

Rajeev told police that Vikram had been asking him to give his 270-square-foot plot near the bus stand to him. In his statement to police, Rajeev has said that he knew Vikram for the past several years and they were drinking buddies. He said Vikram had been pestering him with this request for quite a long time.

However, when he refused him on Friday, Vikram threatened to set him ablaze. Rajeev did not take his words seriously and so he asked him to go right ahead.

Vikram then allegedly took out petrol from his Santro and poured it all over Rajeev. He asked him if he would like to turn over the plot to him once again. When Rajeev refused, Vikram lit a match and set him ablaze, and then he fled, leaving his friend burning alive.

No passerby came to Rajeev’s rescue even though a few had been present when the argument was taking place. After Rajeev started shouting for help, a few locals rushed in and doused the flames. They also made a PCR call and rushed Rajeev to hospital. Doctors said he had received 95% burns and chances of his survival were minimal.

During investigations, it was learnt that Vikram was working in the office of Sharad Chauhan, AAP MLA from Narela. He also has a property dealership. Police have registered a case under Section 307 IPC. Search for the accused is on and raids are being conducted, said police.

