Gurugram Hit-And-Run: Driver's Lawyer Says He Fled Fearing Mob, Blames Bikers

The lawyer representing Kalyan Bainsla, the man accused in a hit-and-run on Gurugram's Golf Course Road, has said his client fled the spot because he feared being attacked by a crowd, and has placed the blame for the crash on the group of motorcyclists.

Speaking about the case, advocate Naveen Bainsla said his client was not at fault and that the riders accompanying the woman were speeding. Asked why Bainsla did not stop to help the injured rider, the lawyer said he was afraid of being lynched by a mob and left to avoid harm to himself or his family.

The advocate claimed the riders numbered 25 to 30 and were travelling at high speed, and alleged that video clips circulated by the woman and another rider had been edited and planted. He also questioned what gave the group the right to occupy an entire stretch of road, perform stunts and endanger others, and called for action against them.

On the dashcam footage showing the car moving across lanes and striking the motorcycle from the side, the lawyer said he had watched it several times and that it showed the woman rider was speeding. He said his client, coming from behind, spotted a U-turn ahead and turned left to protect himself, adding that the riders were provoking and harassing him. He said Bainsla would cooperate with whatever the police investigation establishes.

Bainsla was detained in Dausa, Rajasthan, on Tuesday morning, two days after the incident. According to his lawyer, he had been in hiding out of fear.

The case dates to Sunday morning, when the woman, who goes by the handle "Rebel Wheels Sia" on Instagram, was riding her Aprilia RS 457 with a group of bikers. A white Maruti Suzuki Ciaz began following her, and she alleged that its occupants repeatedly pulled close and made inappropriate gestures. She said she asked the driver to keep his distance but was instead told to stop, and that the four people in the car appeared to be intoxicated.

She continued riding before the sedan overtook her, struck the motorcycle and drove off. She fell and rolled along the road, sustaining minor injuries to her hands and legs, while footage from a camera mounted on her bike captured sparks as metal parts scraped the surface. When a friend riding with her chased the car and confronted the driver at a traffic signal, he denied responsibility and left, she said.

In a separate interview, Bainsla said he had not known a woman was riding the motorcycle and expressed regret over the incident. Sia responded by asking why he had not stopped if he felt sorry, saying it was his responsibility to check whether she was hurt.

Citing video evidence, Gurugram police have added a charge of attempt to murder against Bainsla, an offence that carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.