IAF officer injured in Bengaluru road rage incident, one man arrested as video footage sparks controversy

In a shocking early morning incident in Bengaluru, a 40-year-old Indian Air Force officer, Wing Commander Sheeladitya Bose, was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a biker and a group of individuals, sparking a major public outcry on social media. The confrontation, which took place around 6 a.m. on Monday while Bose and his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, were en route to Kempegowda International Airport, is being investigated as a case of road rage, police confirmed.

According to the police, the altercation began when Madhumita Dutta accidentally hit a biker with the car door while trying to get out. This triggered a heated exchange between the couple and the biker, identified as Vikas Kumar, which quickly escalated into physical violence. Bose, who was injured during the confrontation, later posted a video on social media showing himself bleeding and accusing the biker of abusing them in Kannada and attempting to intimidate them upon noticing the DRDO sticker on their car.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Devaraj D clarified that the incident had no communal or linguistic angle. “This is a case of road rage involving both parties. An FIR has been registered based on a complaint by Madhumita Dutta at Baiyappanahalli police station,” he said. The FIR includes charges under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to criminal intimidation.

Newly surfaced CCTV footage and multiple videos recorded by bystanders have cast a fresh light on the incident. One clip shows Bose scuffling with the biker and putting him in a chokehold, while another appears to capture the officer initiating the physical assault. The videos also show Madhumita trying to intervene as tensions flared.

Police said both parties had opportunities to de-escalate the conflict but chose not to. “The footage indicates that Bose first attacked Vikas Kumar, contradicting initial social media narratives suggesting the officer was only a victim,” an officer revealed on condition of anonymity.

The accused, Vikas Kumar, told police that he was merely passing by when he overheard a remark allegedly made by the woman. When he confronted the couple for clarification, the situation escalated. Investigators said they are collecting further evidence and eyewitness statements to determine the full sequence of events.

As the video continues to circulate online, the incident has reignited discussions around public behavior, abuse of status, and the importance of restraint during road-related disputes.