HC protects IAF officer from arrest in B'luru road rage case

Amid mounting public outrage and viral footage of an assault involving an officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and a civilian in a suspected case of road rage, the Karnataka high court has restrained the Bengaluru police from taking any coercive action against the IAF Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose, who faces allegations of attempt to murder in the case.

- Ayesha Arvind

BENGALURU:

On April 25, Justice Hemanth Chandangoudar, while hearing a petition filed by Bose seeking quashing of the entire proceedings against him, said that the IAF officer must not be arrested and should only be summoned for questioning "in accordance with law."

The court also directed Bose to cooperate with the police's investigation.

"Respondent No. 1 (Bengaluru police) shall not take any coercive action and shall not summon the petitioner without following due procedure of law. The petitioner shall co-operate with the investigation," the high court said.

Such protection granted to Bose by the court comes even as fresh questions are being raised about police impartiality and the preferential treatment allegedly extended to the officer.