Bengaluru driver loses teeth in assault 'instigated by former BJP MP'

Anantkumar Hegde, 6 others booked over road-rage attack

Bengaluru: Former union minister Anantkumar Hegde, his gunman and driver were among seven people booked over a road-rage incident about 60 km northwest of Bengaluru on Monday.

The former Uttara Kannada BJP MP's aides allegedly assaulted a man after his car overtook theirs.

Hegde and his two associates were being questioned at the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Nelamangala when DH contacted a senior officer overseeing the case around 9.40 pm.

Police have registered an FIR under BNS sections 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 351(4) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).

The senior officer said Hegde and other suspects might be arrested if investigations found evidence of their involvement.

The victim, identified only as Khan, was travelling with his family in a Toyota Innova when it overtook Hegde's Mahindra XUV two or three times. Although Hegde's driver sounded horn, Khan did not notice and continued driving.

As both cars neared Hale Nijagal, a village in Nelamangala taluk, Hegde’s driver honked again and asked Khan to pull over. Hegde's driver and gunman then stormed out of their car and began assaulting Khan, the officer added.

Speaking to television reporters, Khan claimed that some people standing behind egged on the two to attack 'Saabaru' (Kannada for Muslim).

However, police did not confirm this and are still verifying it.

In his police complaint, Khan alleged that Hegde instigated the assailants.

C K Baba, Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru Rural), confirmed to DH that the victim (Khan) lost two to three teeth in the assault. He also confirmed that an FIR had been registered against seven people, including Hegde, based on the complaint.