Karnataka High Court Quashes Attempt To Murder Case Against IAF Officer Involved In Road Rage Incident

The Karnataka High Court recently quashed an attempt to murder case registered against an Indian Air Force Officer, who was involved in a road rage fight with a call centre employee in Bengaluru.

Notably the video of the fight between the accused Shiladitya Bose and one Vikas Kumar S J had gone viral on social media. Initially based on the complaint filed by Bose's wife Madhumita, who is a squadron leader and was driving the car when the incident occurred the Byappanahalli police, arrested Kumar under sections 115(2), 116(H), 117(1), 118(1), 126(2), 3(5), 324, 351, 352 OF BNS 2023.

However, acting on cross complaint filed by Kumar and on going through the CCTv footage the police had registered the case against the Air Force officer under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 304 (snatching for theft), 324 (crime of mischief), 352 (intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace. Soon after the incident Bose had posted a video on social media claiming he was assaulted and verbally abused by a man in a road rage incident in Bengaluru, allegedly claiming that the biker assaulted him for not speaking Kannada.

Both the accused approached court seeking to quash the proceedings. On being specifically queried by the court, Kumar acknowledged that the incident in question arose out of a road rage, resulting only in verbal exchanges between the parties.

He stated that except for the said verbal altercation, no physical assault took place. He further submitted that he has not sustained any injuries in the alleged incident and is inclined to put an end to the dispute. He therefore expressed his no objection to quashing of the proceedings.

Similarly the wife of the IAF officer also informed the court that the quarrel arose out of a road rage incident and was verbal in nature. She informed that the matter had been amicably resolved and she had decided to withdraw all allegations made in her complaint. She also affirmed that she did not suffer any injuries in the said incident and therefore has no objection to the proceedings being quashed.

Following which the court said, “On consideration of the affidavits filed by the parties in both petitions, it is noticed that though the accused in Crime No.87/2025 is alleged to have committed an offence under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which is otherwise non-compoundable, the presence of the complainant before this Court and his voluntary statement that no injuries were sustained, coupled with his willingness to give a quietus to the dispute, persuade this Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction.”

It added “Continuation of proceedings in such circumstances would serve no fruitful purpose and would amount to an abuse of the process of law.”

Further it said “This Court has also kept in mind the fact that one of the accused is a serving Air Force Officer, who would otherwise be compelled to face criminal proceedings for the aforesaid offences despite the matter being trivial and settled.”

Allowing both the petitions the court said “Having regard to the statements of the complainants, the voluntary withdrawal of allegations, and the absence of any injury, this Court is satisfied that both petitions deserve to be allowed. However, it is made clear that both parties are strictly warned not to indulge in such incidents in future.”

Appearance: Advocates Dilipkumar Gowda, Suyog Herele for Petitioners.

HCGP M R Patil FOR R1.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 305

Case Title: Vikas Kumar S J AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: CRIMINAL PETITION NO.12352 OF 2025 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO.6267 OF 2025.

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