Former Uttara Kannada MP Anantkumar Hegde and his associates have been charged in a road-rage case after allegedly assaulting a family near Nelamangala on the Bengaluru-Pune National Highway, Monday evening. The FIR, filed at Dobbespet Police Station, names Hegde as the primary accused, along with his driver Mahesh, gunman Sridhar, and others. Hegde’s son was present during the incident but was not named in the complaint lodged by Saif Khan of Vasantapura.
According to Khan, the altercation began when he attempted to overtake Hegde’s Mahindra XUV700 in his Toyota Innova, which carried women passengers. As the vehicles neared Hale Nijagal, they came dangerously close, causing panic. In response, Hegde’s SUV blocked Khan’s path. When a woman began recording the incident, men from Hegde’s vehicle allegedly dragged out the male passengers and assaulted them. The women were reportedly mishandled when they tried to intervene.
Khan claimed he was punched in the face, breaking two of his teeth. Two women screamed for help, drawing attention from passing motorists. As a crowd gathered, Hegde’s team tried to flee, but the SUV was obstructed by the victims. Police patrol units arrived and brought both parties to the station.
The accused were booked under Sections 117 (causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 74 (assault to outrage modesty)—all bailable offences. Victims also accused gunman Sridhar of flashing his licensed firearm. Sridhar defended his actions, citing duty to protect Hegde due to life threats.