Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose alleged that he was attacked and verbally abused in a road rage incident.
Credit: X/@karnatakaportf
Bengaluru: A DRDO pilot and a motorbike scuffled in a road-rage incident in eastern Bengaluru early on Monday morning, officials said.
The DRDO pilot, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose, claimed in a video that he was left with a bloodied face after the motorbiker struck him with a key and a stone.
Separately, CCTV footage shows the Wing Commander punching and kicking the motorbiker, throwing away what looked like his keys and other belongings, and bystanders trying to separate them.
In the video, Bose suggested that the biker, identified as Vikas Kumar, had blocked his car, abused him in Kannada and assaulted him. Bose, with blood trickling from his nose and neck, also claimed that bystanders sided with the biker.
The Baiyappanahalli police have taken up an FIR based on a complaint from Bose's wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta.
They have invoked BNS sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and assault or criminal force without grave provocation among others.
Kumar has been arrested. He is a team head at a call centre.
Dutta stated in her complaint that the incident occurred when she was driving her husband from their residence in DRDO Phase 1 Township, CV Raman Nagar, to the bus stop. Bose was to take a bus to the airport for his flight to Kolkata. He was visiting his father, who was admitted in the hospital for a surgery.
According to a complaint, the motorbiker drove rashly and almost hit their car near Gopalan Grand Mall, Old Madras Road, around 6.20 am. Dutta gave the man a look, allegedly triggering him.
The man allegedly blocked the car with the motorbike, hurled abuses at the couple, and even struck the car with his leg and a stone. In an effort to stop him, the Wing Commander got off the car but the attacker reportedly hit him on the head with the stone. Upon noticing the DRDO sticker on their car, the attacker reportedly made derogatory comments.
Bose said: "When I got out of the car, he immediately hit me on the forehead with his keys. I stood there, shouting, asking if this is how people treat someone from the Army or Defence Forces. More individuals gathered... and began abusing us."
Bose further stated: "The man even picked up a stone and tried to damage my car. When I tried to stop him, he hit me again. You can see the blood — this is what happened. Thankfully, my wife was there to get me out."
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Devaraj D said that locals present at the spot had tried to separate the two me.
He said that according to Kumar, the altercation began after the Squadron Leader accused him of speeding and said something to him. He questioned her husband, leading to the altercation.
"We have a lot of video evidence and will proceed with the investigation," the DCP added.