Couple kill food delivery agent in road rage, return to scene to collect car parts

 

By Sumesh Rajan | October 31, 2025

Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: In a shocking case of road rage, a 24-year-old food delivery agent was allegedly chased and killed by a couple after his scooter accidentally brushed against their car’s side mirror in Bengaluru’s Nataraja Layout on the night of October 25. The accused, identified as Manoj Kumar (32), a martial arts instructor from Kerala, and his wife Aarati Sharma (30), from Jammu and Kashmir, have been arrested and remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

The deceased, Darshan, a resident of Kembattalli, was on his delivery route when the tragic incident occurred. According to police reports, Darshan’s scooter lightly hit the car’s mirror around 9 pm. He immediately stopped, apologised to the couple, and continued toward his destination, assuming the matter was resolved. However, the driver, Manoj Kumar, reportedly lost his temper over the broken mirror and decided to chase the delivery rider.

Investigators said Kumar made a U-turn and followed Darshan’s scooter through the dark stretch near Puttenahalli. A few minutes later, he spotted the two-wheeler, which was carrying Darshan and his friend Varun as a pillion rider. In a fit of rage, Kumar allegedly rammed his car into the scooter from behind, causing both men to be flung onto the road.

Bystanders rushed to the scene and took the injured duo to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared Darshan “brought dead.” Varun sustained injuries but survived the crash. Initially, a hit-and-run case was registered by the JP Nagar traffic police against an unknown car driver based on a complaint filed by Darshan’s sister.

However, as investigators reviewed CCTV footage from nearby cameras, a far more sinister picture emerged. The footage showed a white car suddenly swerving toward Darshan’s scooter from behind and deliberately ramming into it before speeding away. “The vehicle did not attempt to brake or avoid the two-wheeler. The driver’s actions clearly indicate intent,” said an investigating officer, adding that the evidence left “little room for doubt.”

Following the discovery, the case was transferred to the Puttenahalli Police Station and reclassified from a hit-and-run to murder.

In a chilling twist, police found that the accused couple returned to the accident spot around 9:40 pm, barely 40 minutes after the crash. CCTV clips captured the pair parking their car nearby, getting out wearing masks, and collecting broken parts of their vehicle scattered at the scene. They then drove away again, but their faces were clearly captured on camera.

“After committing the crime, they came back to retrieve the damaged parts of their car, apparently in an attempt to destroy evidence,” confirmed Bengaluru South Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lokesh Jagalasur. “CCTV footage clearly shows both of them at the scene.”

The couple was later traced and arrested. During interrogation, Manoj Kumar claimed that his wife was not present during the collision and only accompanied him later to collect the car parts. However, police said they are verifying his statement, as CCTV footage suggests both were involved after the incident.

The car used in the crime has been seized, and forensic examination is underway.

Darshan, who worked tirelessly to support his family, is survived by his parents and sister. His untimely death has sparked outrage on social media, with citizens demanding strict action against the accused and calling for better road safety enforcement.

What began as a minor brush between a scooter and a car ended in a horrifying act of rage — a tragic reminder of how uncontrolled anger can turn a fleeting accident into a deadly confrontation.