Mumbai: Bengaluru’s morning calm, which was shattered on Sunday by an ugly road rage incident, has now taken a U-turn, threatening to spiral into a high-profile legal tangle. Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose of the Indian Air Force, en route to the airport with his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, found himself entangled—both literally and legally—with a local biker, Vikas Kumar, in the city’s Byappanahalli area.
The encounter, initially painted by Bose as an “attack by Kannada-speaking locals,” has since morphed into a public brawl under intense scrutiny. What began with a clipped mirror and a few exchanged words quickly escalated into fisticuffs. Videos captured by bystanders show the decorated officer throwing punches and kicks, even as his wife tried to pull him back. Kumar, a call centre team lead, claims the officer not only assaulted him but also threw away his phone and keys.
Bose posted a video alleging he was targeted for not speaking Kannada. That narrative gained traction online until the CCTV footage told another tale. The images, now forming the backbone of the police investigation, depict Bose as the aggressor, not the victim. In an unusual twist, the same police station that registered Bose’s complaint has now booked him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including attempt to murder and criminal intimidation.
Police Commissioner B. Dayanand Urges Caution
Police Commissioner B. Dayanand urged caution, saying, “We’re investigating both sides. Let’s not jump to conclusions.” Yet Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara pulled no punches, stating the Wing Commander had “fled to West Bengal” and that the police would “secure his custody.” Kannada organisations have pounced on the incident, accusing Bose of communalising a street spat by injecting linguistic victimhood. “This isn’t about Kannada versus Hindi—it’s about accountability,” activist said.
