NAVI MUMBAI: An Ola cab driver was allegedly assaulted with a bamboo stick and dragged for nearly 2km on the bonnet of a car after a road-rage confrontation in Nerul on August 15 night, police said.
The incident occurred around 9.35pm on the stretch near Nerul pond in Sector 20. The cab driver, identified as 27-year-old Pradeepkumar Pandey of Naigaon (East), suffered injuries to his nose and head in the assault.
According to the complaint, Pandey had picked up two women passengers from Andheri at around 8.18pm and dropped them at Seawoods Grand Central Mall in Nerul around 9.30pm. He was then heading towards Sarsole to attend a birthday party when the incident occurred.
Pandey told police that a Swift car driver repeatedly honked at him near Nerul pond. He changed lanes and allowed the car to pass.
However, the driver allegedly stopped his car, got out and accused Pandey of dangerously cutting him off while overtaking. He allegedly punched Pandey on the nose and abused him.
When Pandey objected to the abuse, the man allegedly returned to his car, took out a bamboo stick and struck him on the head, causing severe bleeding.
Cab driver clung to bonnet to stop accused
After allegedly attacking Pandey, the man got back into his car and attempted to drive away.
Pandey tried to stop him, but when the driver started the car, the cab driver climbed onto the bonnet, hoping to prevent him from fleeing until police arrived.
The accused allegedly continued driving with Pandey on the bonnet for around 2km.
Pandey, who was recording the incident on his mobile phone with one hand while holding onto the bonnet with the other, reportedly shouted for help from passing motorists and repeatedly asked the driver to stop, warning that he could fall and be killed.
When the car eventually slowed down, Pandey jumped off the bonnet. The driver then allegedly sped away.
Pandey returned to his cab and called his cousin, Dipanshu Pandey, who took him to NMMC’s Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul.
He was given first aid and later referred to the NMMC hospital in Vashi, where doctors administered sutures for his head injury and conducted a CT scan.
Police identify accused from car registration
Nerul senior inspector Ajay Kamble said an FIR had been registered against the accused, who was initially unidentified and remained absconding.
“From the Swift car’s registration number provided by the complainant, the accused driver was identified as Lalit Arjun Patil, a resident of Juinagar,” Kamble said.
Police have invoked relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous weapons or means, voluntarily causing hurt, rash or negligent driving on a public way endangering human life, and causing hurt through a rash or negligent act.
Further investigation is underway.
