Technocrat’ Magazine
November 22, 2025
Bengaluru’s streets, already infamous for road rage horrors, delivered yet another jaw-dropping twist this April: A DRDO-affiliated Indian Air Force Wing Commander was caught on camera trading blows with a food delivery executive in a violent sidewalk brawl, sparking a firestorm of debates on regional tensions, privilege, and who really threw the first punch.
The April 21, 2025, clash near CV Raman Nagar’s DRDO Colony has resurfaced amid the city’s latest traffic terror tales, with #DRDOAssault and #BengaluruRage exploding on X. Originally framed as a “speak Kannada” hate attack on defense heroes, CCTV footage flipped the script, showing the officer on the offensive. Was it anti-outsider bigotry, or a classic case of two hotheads colliding?
We dig into the raw footage, conflicting claims, and why Bengaluru’s simmering divides keep boiling over.
The Morning Mayhem: From Airport Dash to Asphalt Assault
It started as a frantic pre-dawn commute. Around 6 AM on April 21, 2025, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose (35), an IAF officer posted at DRDO’s Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) in Bengaluru, and his wife Squadron Leader Madhumita Das (32) were racing from their DRDO quarters in CV Raman Nagar to catch an early flight from Kempegowda International Airport.
Madhumita was behind the wheel of their sedan, sporting a prominent DRDO sticker, while Bose rode shotgun.Near Baiyappanahalli, their path crossed with Vikas Kumar (28), a call center employee moonlighting as a food delivery rider on his two-wheeler, clad in a neon green jacket from his gig platform. What ignited the fuse? Accounts clash wildly:
- Bose’s Version (from his viral Instagram video, filmed with blood streaming down his face and neck): A biker (Vikas) recklessly swerved in front, blocked their car at a signal, and unleashed a torrent of Kannada abuses. Spotting the DRDO sticker, Vikas allegedly sneered, “You DRDO people… outsiders ruining our city,” escalating to slurs against Madhumita for not responding in Kannada. When Bose stepped out to confront him, Vikas allegedly jabbed him in the forehead with his bike keys, drawing blood. “This is what Karnataka has become—I believed in it, but now? God help us,” Bose lamented in the clip, which racked 500K+ views in hours.
- Vikas’s Counter-Claim (via police complaint): The car cut him off rashly during his delivery run, nearly clipping his bike. When he approached to remonstrate, Bose exploded out of the vehicle, grabbed his collar, and started swinging wildly. Vikas says he only used his keys in self-defense after being pinned against a wall.
Bystanders—six to seven young locals—rushed in to separate the duo, but not before fists flew and blood spilled. Madhumita whipped out her phone to record, capturing Bose pummeling Vikas while pleading for calm.
The scuffle spilled onto the pavement outside a roadside eatery, drawing a small crowd. Police from Baiyappanahalli station arrived 15 minutes later, after a 100 call from witnesses.
The CCTV Twist: Officer on the Attack?
Enter the smoking gun: Grainy CCTV from a nearby private firm’s camera, leaked to media on April 22, flips Bose’s victim narrative. The footage, timestamped 6:05 AM, shows the sedan halting abruptly. Bose leaps out, charges at the parked biker (Vikas, helmet off, green jacket vivid), shoves him hard against a wall, and unleashes a flurry of punches to the face and torso.
Vikas flails back with his keys—possibly the “jab” Bose cited—but appears more defensive than aggressive. Madhumita films from the car, shouting, “Stop it!” as locals pull Bose away. No clear audio, but lip-readers on X spotted Kannada pleas like “Bas, anna!” (Enough, brother!).”This isn’t language rage—it’s pure road ego,” DCP (East) D.
Devaraj told reporters. “Both provoked; both escalated. The officer exited first and initiated contact.” Forensics confirmed minor injuries: Bose with a 2-inch forehead laceration (stitches needed), Vikas with a swollen jaw and bruises. No weapons beyond the keys.
Timeline of the Tussle:
- 6:00 AM, Apr 21: Couple leaves DRDO Colony; Vikas on delivery route near Baiyappanahalli signal.
- 6:03 AM: Near-miss collision; verbal exchange begins.
- 6:05 AM: Physical fight erupts; CCTV captures chaos; bystanders intervene.
- 6:20 AM: Police arrive; both parties whisked to station (Bose skips FIR for flight, files later).
- Apr 21 Evening: Bose’s video goes viral; Vikas files counter-complaint.
- Apr 22: CCTV surfaces; FIRs cross-filed. Bose charged with attempt to murder (BNS 109), grievous hurt (115); Vikas with assault (351).
- Ongoing (Nov 2025 Update): Case in Baiyappanahalli court; mediation ongoing. No convictions yet; IAF internal probe launched.
The probe wrapped initial arrests in 24 hours—swift for Bengaluru—but mediation drags amid public pressure.
Why It Exploded: Road Rage, Regional Resentment, or Just Bad Blood?
No tidy villain here—this was a perfect storm of Bengaluru’s urban neuroses.
At face value: A classic near-miss in peak-morning gridlock (Baiyappanahalli averages 15 km/h speeds). But layers peel back:
- The Language/Outsider Angle: Bose’s video ignited #SpeakKannadaDebate, with veterans like Retd Major Manik Jolly raging on X: “Does he have to learn every state’s tongue to serve? This Kannada imposition is toxic!” Pro-Kannada voices countered: “DRDO ‘outsiders’ flaunt stickers like badges—provoke locals.” Police debunked it: “Zero evidence of anti-DRDO slurs; pure temper tantrum.”
- Stress Cocktail: Bose, a high-pressure DRDO test pilot, was airport-bound—late flights amplify anxiety. Vikas, juggling call-center shifts and deliveries for ₹15K/month, was on a tight deadline. NIMHANS psych expert Dr. Aruna Kamath notes: “Migrant fatigue + economic pinch = zero tolerance for ‘perceived slights’.”
- Bengaluru’s Broader Boil: City’s 2025 rage stats? Up 25% YoY, per Traffic Police. Delivery riders (15M gig workforce) face daily car bullying; defense folks report “sticker envy” in pro-Kannada pockets. Echoes the recent Wing Commander Syal ramming—same fury, different uniform.
Both men hail from outside Karnataka (Bose from Bengal, Vikas from UP), underscoring the city’s 50%+ migrant churn fueling “us vs. them” vibes.
Bengaluru’s Fury Files: 2025 Road Rage Roundup
This DRDO dust-up adds to the tally—Bengaluru logs 1,200+ incidents YTD, with 20% involving gig workers or uniformed personnel.
Quick stats (Karnataka Traffic Police, Nov 2025):
| Category | Incidents (Jan-Nov 2025) | % Change from 2024 | Key Flashpoints | Common Sparks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Road Rage | 1,248 | +25% | Outer Ring Rd (120), Baiyappanahalli (45) | Near-misses (38%), Honks (25%) |
| Fistfights/Assaults | 456 | +30% | CV Raman Nagar (32), Whitefield (28) | Language/Abuse (22%), Stickers (15%) |
| Involving Delivery Riders | 189 | +40% | Electronic City (50), Koramangala (35) | Blocking paths (45%) |
| Uniformed Victims/Perps | 67 | +18% | DRDO Colony (12), IAF areas (8) | Perceived privilege (30%) |
| Injuries/Deaths | 920 injuries; 14 deaths | +20% | Hebbal Flyover (60 injuries) | Escalation to vehicles (35%) |
Data: Bengaluru Traffic Police Bulletin (Nov 2025).
Note: 60% underreported; gig cases spike post-monsoon.
X Ignites: Heroes or Hotheads?#BengaluruRageV2 trended with 300K posts, splitting netizens:
- Pro-Bose: “Assault on our forces—Siddaramaiah, act!” (IAF fan pages, 100K likes).
- Pro-Vikas: “Officer turned rowdy—CCTV doesn’t lie!” (@RupayiRaja thread, 50K RTs).
- Neutral: “Both idiots; fix roads, not egos” (Viral meme: “DRDO sticker = Invincibility cloak?”).
CMO tweeted support for “swift justice,” but no policy pivot yet.
The Reckoning: De-Escalate or Detonate?
This wasn’t hate— it was human frailty amplified by asphalt anarchy.
Suggestion: Bengaluru needs “Rider Respect” protocols: Mandatory de-escalation modules for DRDO/IAF orientations (role-play “sticker stares”), and gig apps with panic-button CCTVs linking to cops.
For all: Free “Road Zen” workshops at traffic junctions. Prevention packs more punch than prosecutions.As mediation looms, one truth endures: In Bengaluru’s bottleneck battlefield, the real enemy is unchecked impulse.
Who’s your villain here?
Drop it below—follow for the verdict.
Comments