We have all experienced that one parked car in the neighbourhood. A stray dog walks past it, a breeze blows, or a child runs nearby, and the blaring alarm suddenly wakes up the entire street. It is deeply irritating. Most people grumble, roll their eyes, or complain to the owner in the morning.
One man in Gujarat, however, decided to take things to an extreme level. Irritated by the loud proximity sensors of a parked car, he brought a container of fuel, doused the vehicle, lit a match, and burned it to the ground. To make things worse, the car belonged to an advocate, and the entire incident was captured on video.
The incident went viral, and police quickly stepped in to arrest the man. But beyond the bizarre nature of the act, this case highlights a major legal reality in India: taking revenge on private property over everyday disputes is a serious crime that lands you straight in prison.
The Midnight Blaze in Morbi
The incident took place in Morbi, Gujarat. According to police and local reports, the car belonged to an advocate named Pushpa Bhatt. It was parked near the residence of a fellow advocate when the trouble began.
Security footage that surfaced online captured the entire sequence. A man walked up to the parked vehicle carrying a container of inflammable liquid. Without hesitation, he poured the liquid over the car, struck a match, and watched the flames erupt.
Instead of running away immediately, the accused stopped to film the burning vehicle on his phone. He then calmly walked over to his own car parked nearby and drove away into the night.
The car’s owner was alerted by her colleague, and neighbours rushed out to control the blaze before emergency teams arrived. However, the car suffered heavy damage. Police soon tracked down and arrested the suspect.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police J.M. Aala, the car was equipped with a proximity sensor that sounded an alarm whenever someone walked too close. The neighbour was reportedly frustrated by the constant noise, which drove him to torch the vehicle.
What The Law Says: Arson and Mischief
Losing your patience over a loud honking alarm is one thing. Setting a vehicle on fire is a grave criminal offence under Indian criminal law.
Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), causing damage to property with intent to cause wrongful loss is classified as mischief. When fire or explosives are used to commit this act, the law becomes significantly harsher.
- Section 324 of BNS (Old IPC Section 435): This section deals with committing mischief by fire or any explosive substance with intent to cause damage to property. The law prescribes imprisonment for a term that may extend up to seven years, along with a fine.
- Destruction of Movable Property: Setting a motor vehicle on fire falls squarely under mischief by fire. The law does not accept frustration or annoyance as a defence for destroying someone else’s asset.
- Public Endangerment: Pouring fuel and lighting a blaze on a residential street also puts neighbouring homes and passersby at risk, which can attract additional charges of endangering public life and safety.
How Should Noise Disputes Actually Be Handled?
Can a continuously honking vehicle alarm be considered an offence? Yes, persistent and unreasonable noise can amount to a public nuisance under Section 270 of the BNS (formerly Section 268 of the Indian Penal Code).
However, the remedy for nuisance lies strictly within the legal framework, not through vigilantism. If a neighbour’s vehicle sensor or loud sound system disturbs the peace, citizens have lawful avenues to address it:
- Filing a Police Complaint: You can report repeated noise violations to the local police station or dial the emergency control room.
- Approach the Executive Magistrate: Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), an Executive Magistrate can issue orders to abate or remove a public nuisance.
- Approach Residential Welfare Associations: In apartment complexes or societies, internal dispute resolution rules can penalise vehicle owners who fail to regulate overly sensitive security alarms.
Taking matters into your own hands by damaging the offending object is known in legal terms as ‘extrajudicial self-help’. In the eyes of the law, the moment you commit vandalism or arson, you transition from an aggrieved victim into an accused criminal.
Why This Matters For You
Living in close proximity to neighbours in Indian cities inevitably leads to friction over parking spots, boundary walls, loud music, and barking pets. Modern vehicles packed with sensitive sensors and loud anti-theft alarms only add to the potential triggers.
This case serves as a clear reminder that temper tantrums involving fire or physical destruction carry mandatory criminal liability. The police make arrests swiftly, and courts do not treat arson lightly, especially when caught clearly on camera.
No matter how loud an alarm is, torching a car will never silence the problem. It only trades a sleepless night for years of facing criminal trials and possible prison time.
Story reported by Top Trending News, Viral Videos, Latest Viral News, Odd News, Memes and Puzzles, Social Media Viral News | Hindustan Times. This article is BareLaw’s independent explanation and analysis.
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