Shoranur: A pantry car employee has been arrested for allegedly pouring boiling water on a passenger aboard the Netravati Express, leaving him with burn injuries.

The victim, Abhishek Babu, 24, a native of Mumbai, sustained burns to his back and legs during the incident. The accused, Raghavendra Singh, a native of Uttar Pradesh and the pantry car manager on the train, was arrested by the Shoranur Railway Police.

According to the police, the issue began on Thursday night over the purchase of drinking water. Abhishek and his friends had reportedly handed over a ₹200 note for a ₹15 bottle of water, which led to a dispute with the pantry car staff over change. The group later left behind their glasses and caps in the pantry car.

On Friday morning, around 10 a.m., as the Netravati Express was travelling from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram, the group returned to the pantry car to retrieve their belongings. A heated argument broke out, during which Raghavendra Singh allegedly poured boiling water on them, causing burn injuries to Abhishek.

The passengers immediately alerted the railway police, who arrested the accused when the train reached Thrissur station. Abhishek was rushed to a private hospital in Thrissur by his friends and railway officials for treatment.

The complaint was filed by Ashish, a resident of Thrissur and a friend of the victim. He was travelling with his Mumbai-based friends Aneesh, Kishan, Tejas, Sitesh, and Abhishek to Thrissur.

The accused was later produced before a magistrate and remanded.