It’s often said that “the wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.” A grieving father realised the truth of that adage seven years after losing his son to a brutal road rage incident, as a Bengaluru court sentenced two men to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000 each.
The case dates back to June 2018, when Siddharth Koushal, a 26-year-old Infosys employee, was fatally assaulted after he cautioned two bikers for rash driving.
The court, on October 24, 2025 — which coincidentally marked Koushal’s birth anniversary — found the accused Girish V (28) and Mahesh M K (26) guilty of murder.
“My son’s birthday was on October 24 — the day the court pronounced both the accused guilty. I know my son won’t come back, but the conviction coming through on his birthday is justice delivered,” said Koushal’s father, Koushalendar Kumar Pandey, expressing relief and sorrow in equal measure.
Incident and Investigation
According to police, around 3 am on June 26, 2018, Koushal and his friends Ravi Prakash and Naveen were travelling from JP Nagar to Electronics City when they stopped at BTM Layout. While Koushal stepped out of the car briefly, the accused duo allegedly brushed past him recklessly on their bike, hitting his elbow.
When Koushal warned them to drive carefully, an argument ensued. Girish reportedly picked up a wooden log, struck Koushal on the head, and attacked his friend Ravi before fleeing with Mahesh.
Koushal was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on June 30, 2018.
Swift Police Action and Trial
Following a complaint by Ravi Prakash, police initially registered a case of attempted murder, which was later upgraded to murder. Both accused were arrested within hours of the incident. While Mahesh was released on bail, Girish’s bail plea was rejected.
“Mico Layout police promptly investigated the case. The prime accused had even threatened witnesses against testifying, but the police ensured their safety,” Pandey said, thanking investigators for their persistence.
The verdict, delivered after seven years of trial, brought a measure of closure to Koushal’s family, symbolising justice delayed but not denied.