A seemingly ordinary incident of road rage has transformed into a week-long controversy with new twists and accusations emerging on a daily basis.
File photo of Mayor Arya Rajendran. (Facebook)
A seemingly ordinary incident of road rage has transformed into a week-long controversy that continues to simmer in Kerala and beyond.
At the centre of the storm is India’s youngest Mayor, Arya Rajendran, who is the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation.
A heated argument between her and a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Super Fast driver at Thiruvananthapuram’s Palayam Saphalyam Complex Junction on 27 April night, has transcended local news and sparked statewide debate.
With new twists and accusations emerging on a daily basis, the controversy is alive.
The confrontation erupted when a KSRTC bus allegedly failed to yield to a private car carrying Mayor Arya, her husband KM Sachin Dev- an MLA, and their family at Plamoodu Junction in Thiruvananthapuram.
It is also alleged that the bus driver, identified as HL Yadu, showed some obscene gestures at Arya and her sister-in-law, who were sitting in the rear seat of the car.
As tensions mounted, the car, upon reaching Palayam, cross-parked in front of the bus, leading to a heated exchange between bus driver Yadu, Mayor Arya, and MLA Sachin .
Eyewitnesses reported that amidst the chaotic scene, tempers flared, with both parties engaged in a verbal duel over the alleged disregard for road etiquette. The confrontation attracted the attention of bystanders and soon garnered widespread coverage across various media platforms.
While Arya complained of the reckless driving of the bus driver as well as his misbehaviour, Yadu complained that the car had tried to overtake from the wrong side. He also added that the mayor as well as the MLA obstructed the bus and forced passengers to get off.
However, controversy erupted when reports emerged suggesting that the police had registered a case solely on Arya’s complaint, seemingly disregarding the driver’s account of the incident.
This discrepancy has sparked debates over fairness and impartiality, with many questioning the transparency of the investigation process. The police who arrested Yadu later released him as he was charged with bailable offences.
Yadu had complained that the Cantonment Police desisted from accepting his complaint though he was the first to approach them.
Yadu had filed a complaint against Arya and Sachin for disrupting his official duty and forcibly stopping the bus midway. He also raised the complaint that Sachin threatened passengers and asked them to get out of the bus.
Another twist came up as the police inquiring Mayor’s complaint couldn’t find the memory card from the CCTV camera on the bus. Following that, a theft case has been registered.
At the same time, another woman, actress Roshna Ann Roy, came out against Yadu as she alleged that the driver made inappropriate remarks when she was travelling in a car from Malappuram to Ernakulam with her brother. According to Roshna, the incident had happened 10 months ago.
As the video of a confrontation between Arya and Yadu became viral, a cyber-attack against both of them ensued. While the CPM and its youth wing DYFI alleged that Arya is facing cyber lynching, Yadu also complained the same.
On 30 April, Arya also made an emotional speech at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council meeting. She then stated, “People often ask why women didn’t react to unpleasant things against them. But here I am, suffering because I reacted immediately.”
She further added in a broken voice, “I heard reports that I fabricated the whole thing. There are also reports that it was merely an issue of the bus not giving way and I blew up the whole thing. If you had checked the video, you would hear my brother asking the driver what gesture he showed.”
Later, the Mayor said that Yadu is a habitual offender and pointed out that action had been taken against him twice, in 2002 and in 2017. She also alleged that Yadu had consumed some narcotic substances during the confrontation.
In the case of Sachin, it was alleged that he entered the bus and threatened the bus passengers to get off from it. However, Sachin told the media that he had stepped into the footboard of the bus and never entered inside. He also dismissed the allegation that he threatened the passengers.
According to Yadu, the cases cited by the Mayor have now been settled, and if not, he couldn’t have entered government service. Alleging the involvement of higher-ups in not considering his case against Arya and Sachin, Yadu has now approached the court.
On 4 May, he filed a petition before the Thiruvananthapuram Magistrate Court – III demanding an inquiry into disruption of duty and blocking the bus. The court might consider the petition on 6 May.
On 2 May, he approached the Kerala State Human Rights Commission raising the issue that the police had not considered his complaint against the Mayor and the MLA.
Considering the same, the commission directed the City Police Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram, and KSRTC managing director to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within one week. The commission will consider the case again on 9 May.
Commenting on the version of Sachin that he didn’t threaten or enter the bus and the conductor is aware of the same, Yadu said that the conductor is a DYFI activist.
“The conductor Subin is a DYFI activist. At the time of the incident, he was sitting in the front seat. But he told the police that he was sitting in the back seat. When the MLA entered the bus, he raised from his seat and offered it by saying Comrade, please sit. I suspect if the conductor has a role to play in the missing of the memory card,” Yadu told the media.
In short, an ordinary road rage incident became a high-profile one and elicited divided opinions as well as a political war of words.
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
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