Bengaluru Road Rage: IAF Officer Faces Attempted Murder Charges After New CCTV Video Emerges

In a dramatic twist to a road rage case that initially appeared to be a hate crime, Indian Air Force officer Shiladitya Bose has been booked for attempt to murder after CCTV and social media footage contradicted his original claims.

What Happened?
The incident unfolded early Monday morning in Bengaluru when Bose an IAF officer , accompanied by his wife was heading to the airport. According to his viral video, a biker allegedly attacked him for not speaking Kannada. He claimed the confrontation was rooted in linguistic discrimination.

However, the narrative took a sharp turn when multiple videos from the scene surfaced. Far from being the victim, footage showed Bose physically attacking the biker—identified as Vikas Kumar. The video captured Bose hitting and thrashing Kumar, even as his wife tried to intervene.

Following the release of these videos, the Bengaluru police registered a formal complaint from Vikas and booked Bose under several serious charges, including, Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 304 (snatching), 324 (mischief), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Authorities now say Bose instigated the fight and later fabricated the story to make it appear as a targeted attack. He also allegedly misrepresented himself as a DRDO officer and fled to Kolkata after the incident. Even more troubling, he reportedly tried to involve senior defence officials to sweep the matter under the rug.

Language Not the Trigger
The situation reportedly escalated when Vikas heard Bose's wife speak in Hindi and asked Bose what she was saying—sparking a confrontation that turned violent. The police have dismissed the language angle as a false claim that could have flared communal tensions.

Initially, Vikas was detained based on a complaint filed by Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, Bose’s wife. However, the emergence of the videos has flipped the case on its head.

Where It Stands Now
The Bengaluru police are continuing their investigation and have stated that both parties exchanged blows in a moment of rage—but with mounting evidence against Bose, the narrative of him being the victim has quickly unraveled.

This case is now a stark reminder of how social media narratives can be misleading and how video evidence can change everything.

News agency PTI quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Devaraj D as saying, “This is a case of road rage. An altercation took place, and both sides attacked each other. The accused has been taken into custody."

“At around 6 am, the officer was heading from his DRDO quarters to Kempegowda International Airport. His wife was driving, and he was seated beside her. An altercation broke out between the couple and a bike rider."

CCTV footage and bystander videos suggest the scuffle could have been avoided. Police say Bose initially went to the station to report the incident but, as he was bleeding and running late for his flight, he left after being advised to get medical help. The FIR was later registered after his wife, Madhumita, filed a formal complaint.

The biker, identified as Vikas, reportedly told police that t “What are you talking about?" and then approached the officer, asking, “What is madam saying?" An argument followed. “We have ample video evidence and will proceed with the investigation," the DCP added.

Later, Bose shared a video on Instagram, detailing the incident and showing visible injuries. “We live in DRDO, CV Raman Nagar Phase 1. This morning, my wife was driving me to the airport when a bike came from behind and blocked our car. I’ll share dash cam footage too. One of the riders started abusing me in Kannada. On seeing the DRDO sticker, he said, ‘You DRDO people,’ followed by more abuse. He then abused my wife. I couldn’t take it," he said.

He also expressed, “When I got out of the car, he immediately hit me on the forehead with his keys. I stood there shouting, asking if this is how people treat Defence personnel. More individuals gathered and began abusing us." He added, “That man even picked up a stone and tried to damage our car. When I tried to stop him, he hit me again. You can see the blood—this is what happened. Thankfully, my wife was there to get me out." Bose also claimed they went to the police station but did not receive immediate help.

“But this is what Karnataka has become. I believed in this state, but after today’s incident, I’m shocked. God help us. God give me the strength not to retaliate. But if law and order fail, I will," he said in the video.

Meanwhile, state Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that the IAF officer was “absconding” and confirmed that both parties had filed complaints. “The investigation is ongoing, and an FIR has been registered,” he said.

As the probe continues, the incident has sparked conversations around public safety and how confrontations on the road can escalate dangerously if not handled calmly.