Probe against BMTC driver, conductor hits dead-end in Bhutanese girl's case

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is yet to initiate action against the conductor and driver of a BMTC Volvo bus, who had allegedly molested two Bhutanese girls travelling in it.

The driver Mahesh and conductor Jayarama, continue in their respective positions, though it is four weeks since the duo, as part of disciplinary action, were placed under suspension and inquiry instituted.

The inquiry, conducted by the then BMTC Director (Security, Vigilance and Enforcement) Bijay Kumar Singh, has not moved ahead, though it was handed over to former NGEF Deputy General Manager and advocate Prasanna Kumar following Singh’s transfer to police headquarters.

On December 27, 2012, barely ten days after the Delhi gang rape shook the nation, two Bhutanese sisters were allegedly molested in a BMTC’s Volvo bus by the conductor and driver as rest of the passengers walked away indifferently.  
The sisters, at that time, had refused to file a formal police complaint.

While one girl was 25-year-old civil engineer working in City then, her 26-year-old sister was a senior manager with private company.  The duo had taken a BMTC bus (No 500D) from Kammanahalli had an argument with the conductor.

Shockingly, all co-passengers alighted from the bus leaving the two sisters to fend for themselves.

When the sisters tried to complain to the BMTC, the conductor-driver duo impeded them.

An autorickshaw, hailed by the sisters, was blocked by the bus driver, and the conductor dragged one of them into the bus, molesting and groping her.