A minor brush between a car and a bike on Marve Road, Malad West, spiralled into a case of road rage on Sunday evening, when a mob of nearly 15 men attacked a group of youngsters with iron rods and bamboo sticks, leaving one critically injured. The incident is one of two violent road rage cases reported in Mumbai within the past 36 hours.
Malvani, Malad
According to police, the violence began after a green Ola electric bike grazed an Innova car near Rathodi village. The two parties exchanged heated words but dispersed without further incident. However, an hour later, the same bikers allegedly returned with 10-15 accomplices. The gang dragged the car’s occupants out, smashed the vehicle’s windows, and assaulted them with rods and sticks.
Car from the Aarey incident with a ‘Maharashtra Administration’ sticker displayed inside (right) Broken side mirror of the car involved in the Aarey road rage clash. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Complainant Prince Rajesh Tiwari, 24, a resident of Janakalyan Nagar, said he and his friends Prashant Pandey, 22, Rudra Shukla, 22, Vivek Tiwari, 34, and Aditya Jaiswal, 19, were headed towards Dana Paani Beach when the mob struck. “They badly damaged our car and hit Prashant on the head with an iron rod. He needed over 15 stitches and is still critical. Shockingly, when we went to the police station, officers initially refused to register our complaint,” Tiwari told mid-day. He also alleged that the attackers, identified as locals from Madh village, remain at large.
Police said the attackers also robbed Pandey of a gold chain worth nearly Rs 1 lakh. A case has been registered at Malvani police station for assault, robbery, and criminal intimidation. Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagarkar confirmed that six accused have been identified but are absconding.
Aarey Colony clash
In another road rage incident, Aarey police booked two animal activists, Vijay Rangare, 35, and Mohammed Rais Shaikh, for rash driving, assault, and causing injuries during a violent scuffle near Powai toll naka in the early hours of Thursday.
Police said the duo, after drinking at a bar in Royal Palms, accidentally hit a pedestrian while returning from Aarey Colony, where they had gone for dog rescue work. Instead of stopping, they fled, prompting the victim, Kalpesh Pawar, 25, and his friends to chase and intercept them near the toll booth. The activists allegedly claimed to be government officials — pointing to a “Maharashtra Administration” sticker on their car — and threatened the youth. The fight escalated into stone-pelting, injuring both sides.
Two days later, the activists returned with supporters demanding that police register a murder case against the youth. However, subsequent medical reports showed injuries on both parties, leading police to register FIRs against both sides. Senior Inspector Ravindra Patil of Aarey police said, “The activists initially portrayed themselves as victims, but medical checks proved they were also aggressors. We have filed cases against both groups and issued notices.”
