A shocking case of road rage in Bengaluru has left the city stunned after a 24-year-old food delivery agent was brutally killed when a couple deliberately ran their car over him following a minor road altercation. According to The Times of India, the chilling incident, captured on CCTV, took place around 9 pm on Sunday in Nataraja Layout, South Bengaluru.
The victim, identified as Darshan, was returning home after completing a delivery when his scooter allegedly brushed against a car driven by Manoj Kumar, a 32-year-old martial arts trainer from Kerala. According to police reports, instead of diffusing the situation, the enraged driver chased Darshan for several metres before ramming his car directly into the scooter from behind. The impact threw Darshan and his pillion rider onto the road, leaving him fatally injured.
Passersby rushed the duo to a nearby hospital, where Darshan was declared dead on arrival. His friend sustained minor injuries and is recovering. The accused, Manoj Kumar, was accompanied by his wife, Aarati Sharma, a 30-year-old woman from Jammu and Kashmir. The couple, married for about five years and residing in JP Nagar, were arrested within hours of the incident and have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
Shocking CCTV Evidence
CCTV footage from the locality reveals the horrifying sequence of events. After the initial brush between the vehicles, the car pauses briefly before suddenly accelerating toward the scooter, hitting it with full force. In a disturbing twist, about 40 minutes later, the same car was seen returning to the scene. The couple, both wearing masks, stepped out, examined the site, and collected broken car parts before leaving again.
Police said this act of returning to retrieve evidence confirmed premeditation. “This was not an accident. The driver intentionally veered and hit the scooter. It was a deliberate act of rage,” said a senior officer from the Bengaluru Traffic Police.
Murder Charge Replaces Hit-and-Run
Initially, a hit-and-run case was filed based on a complaint by Darshan’s sister. However, after reviewing CCTV footage, the police upgraded the case to murder, citing clear intent. The car involved has been seized, and investigators are examining whether the accused were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime.
The police are also verifying the couple’s statements and have gathered multiple CCTV clips from different locations along the chase route to reconstruct the timeline of events.
Family and Public Outcry
The victim’s family has demanded strict punishment for the accused, calling the act “cold-blooded murder.” “Darshan was a hardworking boy who was simply doing his job. We want justice for our brother,” his sister said tearfully outside the police station.
The incident has triggered outrage across Bengaluru, with social media flooded with messages demanding justice and stricter laws to prevent road rage crimes. Food delivery workers’ associations have also condemned the attack, calling for improved safety protocols for those working late at night.
Growing Road Rage Crisis
Experts have described the case as part of a worrying rise in aggressive driving and road violence in urban India. “This was not just anger – it was a collapse of self-control and empathy,” said a behavioral psychologist from NIMHANS. “We are witnessing a dangerous trend where minor traffic conflicts escalate into life-threatening confrontations.”
The Bengaluru Police Commissioner has assured that the investigation will be pursued “with full seriousness” and that the accused will face the harshest possible punishment.
As Bengaluru mourns another senseless loss, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of how a moment’s rage can destroy multiple lives – turning an ordinary traffic brush into a shocking act of deliberate violence.
Photo Credit: Social Media X
