Bengaluru IAF Officer’s ‘Attack’ Story Falls Apart, Now Faces Murder Bid Charge for Attacking Biker

Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose of the Indian Air Force has been booked for attempt to murder after CCTV footage disproved his version of a road rage incident.

The officer, who had initially suggested he was a victim of an attack, is now facing serious charges, including attempt to murder, after new evidence emerged showing him physically assaulting a biker.

The incident happened on Monday early morning, April 22, near the Tin Factory junction in Bengaluru, as Wing Commander Bose and his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, were en route to the airport. According to initial reports, Bose claimed that they were harassed by a biker for allegedly not speaking in Kannada. He later posted a video on social media platform X, showing himself with a bloodied face and stating that the biker had driven recklessly, stopped in front of their vehicle, and then assaulted them.

However, the CCTV footage taken from a nearby camera painted a starkly different picture. The video showed Bose pinning down the biker, Vikas Kumar, and repeatedly punching him on the road, leading to the registration of an FIR by Byappanahalli Police. Vikas Kumar, a call center employee, filed the complaint claiming he had been attacked without provocation.

Based on the evidence from the CCTV footage, Bengaluru Police registered an FIR against Wing Commander Bose under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include:

• Section 108 (Abetment)
• Section 115(2) (Attempt to commit an offense punishable with death or life imprisonment)
• Section 304 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder)
• Section 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means)
• Section 352 (Assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation)

Currently, Bose is reported to be in Kolkata, and Bengaluru Police are preparing to summon him for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

What Happened?

The altercation unfolded around 6 AM as the couple was heading to the airport. After the incident, Bose's claims sparked a wave of support on social media, with the officer suggesting that the attack stemmed from linguistic discrimination. He mentioned that the biker had become enraged because they did not speak in Kannada. Bose further complained that the local residents did not intervene to help, with only a few elderly citizens allegedly offering assistance.

However, according to police, CCTV footage and witness testimonies contradicted this version of events. The police clarified that the incident was a case of road rage and had nothing to do with language. According to DCP (Bengaluru East) Devraj, the altercation began when Bose's wife questioned the biker for driving on the wrong side of the road. This quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, common in road rage incidents across the city.

Police Findings

Devraj also dismissed Bose's claim that no one attempted to stop the fight, stating that multiple people tried to intervene and de-escalate the situation. The police are still in the process of gathering additional evidence, including footage from nearby dashcams, to fully piece together the events leading up to the confrontation.

This case has raised questions about the use of social media to manipulate narratives and the dangers of road rage incidents, which continue to be a significant issue in Bengaluru.