Bengaluru Road Rage Incident: IAF Officer Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose Booked for Attempt to Murder

Bengaluru: In a startling twist to the Bengaluru road rage case, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose of the Indian Air Force has been booked for attempt to murder after CCTV footage contradicted his version of events. The incident, which occurred early Monday morning, April 22, near the Tin Factory junction, involved a violent altercation between Bose and a biker, Vikas Kumar, while Bose and his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, were en route to the airport.

The police have registered an FIR based on the complaint of the injured biker, Vikas Kumar, a call centre employee, who sustained injuries during the incident. The FIR includes serious charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 108 (abetment), 115(2) (attempt to commit an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment), 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 352 (assault or use of criminal force without grave provocation).

The road rage incident unfolded around 6 AM when the couple, both officers of the DRDO, were on their way to catch a flight to Kolkata. Initially, Bose took to social media to share a video of himself with a bloodied face, alleging that a biker had abused them for not speaking in Kannada. He claimed that the biker drove recklessly, blocked their car, and physically attacked them.

Bose went on to express his frustration, stating, “I kept shouting and asking people, is this how Karnataka treats people from the armed forces who serve the nation?” He also alleged that no one intervened in the altercation, except for a few elderly locals.

However, CCTV footage from the scene tells a different story. The footage reportedly shows Wing Commander Bose physically assaulting Vikas Kumar, pinning him to the ground, and repeatedly punching him on the road. This evidence has led Bengaluru Police to dismiss the language issue, which had been initially raised by Bose.

Bengaluru East Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Devraj addressed the media, clarifying that the conflict had no connection to the Kannada language. “This is not a language-related issue. The altercation started when Bose’s wife questioned the biker for driving on the wrong side. It escalated into a typical road rage incident, which unfortunately is common in Bengaluru,” DCP Devraj said.

Furthermore, the DCP disputed Bose’s claims that no one had attempted to stop the fight. “Our investigation and the footage show that at least two to three people tried to intervene and de-escalate the situation,” he added.

At present, Wing Commander Bose, who is believed to be in Kolkata, is expected to be summoned by Bengaluru Police for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.