Pilot’s Fury: Ex-Colleague and Armed Thugs Beat Air India Veteran Over Unpaid Debt in Mumbai

In a shocking escalation of a financial dispute, a veteran Air India pilot was subjected to a brutal attack by his former colleague, the man’s wife, and a group of bodyguards inside a Goregaon West apartment, authorities reported. The incident, stemming from an unpaid loan of Rs 5 lakh, unfolded on October 25 and has prompted a police manhunt for the six suspects who fled the scene.

Kapil Kohal, 55, arrived at the residence expecting to recover the money he had lent through his wife’s account. Instead, he was ambushed, beaten severely, and coerced into a humiliating apology, according to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Bangur Nagar police station. The assault took place around 8:30 pm in flat 1401, B Wing of Garden Estate on New Link Road in Laxmi Nagar.

Kohal, who lives in Shanti Niketan Society on Versova-Yari Road in Andheri West, shares his home with his wife Preeti, 56, and their two sons: Aryan, 25, and Krish, 21. Both Preeti and Aryan are also employed as pilots with Air India, while Krish works in the finance sector. Kohal’s professional ties with the primary assailant, Deven Kanani, date back to 1995 when the pair underwent pilot training together in Rae Bareli before joining the airline. Kanani was eventually dismissed from Air India.

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The trouble began in November 2024, when Kanani approached Kohal’s family for financial help, securing the Rs 5 lakh from Preeti’s HDFC Bank account with assurances of repayment within one month. Despite repeated follow-ups, the debt remained outstanding. On the evening in question, Kanani summoned Kohal to his flat under the pretense of settling the amount. What followed was a violent confrontation: four unidentified bodyguards allegedly pummeled Kohal, targeting his back, waist, and neck, while Kanani slapped him repeatedly. In a further act of degradation, Kanani is accused of grabbing Kohal’s legs and compelling him to beg for forgiveness multiple times.

Sensing danger, Kohal discreetly shared his live location with his son Krish, who rushed to the spot alongside responding officers from Bangur Nagar police. By then, Kanani, his wife Nira, and the four bodyguards had vanished. Kohal was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali West for medical attention before lodging a formal complaint the next day, October 26.

Police have registered charges against Deven Kanani, Nira Kanani, and the four unnamed bodyguards under sections related to voluntarily causing hurt. Investigations are ongoing, with teams scouring the area for leads on the fugitives. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday morning.

This case underscores the perils of personal loans gone awry, particularly among those in high-stakes professions like aviation, where trust between colleagues can turn toxic under financial strain. Authorities urge anyone with information on the suspects to contact the Bangur Nagar police station.