What began as a minor scrape between a scooter and a car in South Bengaluru escalated into a horrifying case of murder. Police have arrested Manoj Kumar (32), a martial arts instructor from Kerala, and his wife Aarati Sharma (30), from Jammu and Kashmir, for allegedly killing Darshan (24), a food delivery executive, by deliberately ramming their car into his two-wheeler on the night of October 25.

Altercation Turns Deadly

According to investigators, Darshan was riding his scooter with his friend Varun as pillion when his vehicle brushed against the accused couple’s car, slightly damaging its side mirror. Though Darshan apologised and continued towards his delivery location, the driver allegedly lost his temper.

“Enraged by the incident, the driver reversed his vehicle, chased the two-wheeler, and deliberately hit it from behind,” said DCP (South) Lokesh Jagalasur.

Chilling CCTV Evidence

Initially treated as a hit-and-run and registered at the JP Nagar Traffic Police Station, the case took a grim turn after officers reviewed CCTV footage from the Nataraja Layout–Sri Rama Temple area. The video revealed that the car trailed the scooter before striking it from behind. “To our horror, we discovered it was not an accident. The driver deliberately veered left and rammed into the scooter,” an investigating officer said.

Further footage showed the same car returning to the scene minutes later. “The couple, wearing masks, was seen collecting car parts that had come off during the ramming. They then drove back, and this time their faces were clearly visible,” a senior officer added.

Victim Killed, Friend Injured

The impact of the crash threw both Darshan and Varun onto the road. Bystanders rushed them to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared Darshan “brought dead,” while Varun sustained serious injuries but survived.

Darshan’s sister later filed a complaint, unaware that her brother’s death was the result of an intentional act. The Puttenahalli Police were soon brought into the investigation after traffic officers uncovered evidence pointing to murder.

Confession and Investigation

Deputy Commissioner of Police Lokesh Jagalasur confirmed that the couple has confessed to the crime. Kumar reportedly told investigators that he alone rammed the scooter, while Aarati joined him later to collect broken parts from the scene. Police are verifying this version of events.

Officers said the couple’s car was identified through CCTV footage, leading to their arrest within days of the incident. They have since been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

Legal Action and Family’s Plea

The case, now reclassified as murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, also includes charges for destruction of evidence and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Darshan, a bachelor, is survived by his parents and sister, who are demanding strict punishment for the accused. Locals have expressed shock over how a trivial road incident spiraled into a calculated killing.

“In the video, it can be seen that the driver deliberately dashed into Darshan’s scooter from behind and sped away,” a police officer said, calling the act “a disturbing example of uncontrolled rage on the roads.”