Bengaluru road rage case: HC restrains police from coercive action against IAF officer
CCTV footage from the site of the incident, accessed by the local police, indicated that the IAF officer thrashed Kumar on the road and the sidewalk after the alleged road rage incident
The Karnataka High Court has directed the Bengaluru police not to initiate coercive action against Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose in a case of assault filed by a call centre worker, Vikas Kumar, in view of a road rage incident near Old Madras Road on April 21.
“Police shall not take any coercive action and shall not summon the petitioner without following due procedure of law. The petitioner (Bose) shall cooperate with the investigation. The chargesheet should not be submitted without leave of this court,” said the judge in his order on Thursday.
FIR challenged
Bose has challenged the FIR registered under BNS sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 304 (snatching), 324 (mischief) and 352 (intentional insult) and consequential proceedings pending before a city court.
Also read: IAF officer assaulted, wife abused on Bengaluru road
Initially, the IAF officer had claimed on social media that he was attacked for not speaking in the local Kannada language. However, when CCTV footage later revealed that he was not at the receiving end of the violence, pro-Kannada groups came out in support of the local call centre employee and sought his arrest.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also directed the Bengaluru City police to take stringent action in the matter. “I have instructed the Commissioner of Police to take appropriate legal action against the individuals involved, irrespective of their position or rank. The state government is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and is committed to ensuring justice for the victim,” he said on April 22.
About the incident
The incident occurred on April 21 morning when a car driven by the IAF officer’s wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, was involved in a minor traffic incident with the motorcycle of Vikas Kumar, 27. Following a complaint filed by Sq Ldr Dutta, the Bengaluru police registered a case of assault on her husband, and arrested Kumar that evening. As per the complaint, the IAF officer was attacked on the grounds that he did not speak Kannada.
A counter-complaint of assault and attempt to murder was filed by Kumar against the IAF officer, and an FIR was registered on Monday night. Kumar’s complaint said Wg Cdr Bose claimed to be in the Air Force and warned him against picking a fight.
Also read: In twist in Bengaluru's road rage case, IAF officer now booked for assault
CCTV footage from the site of the incident, accessed by the local police, indicated that the IAF officer thrashed Kumar on the road and the sidewalk after the alleged road rage incident.
