Navi Mumbai: A 27-year-old Ola cab driver was allegedly punched on the nose, hit on the head with a bamboo stick and then driven for nearly 2km while clinging to the bonnet of a car after a road-rage argument in Nerul on Friday night. The injured driver, identified as Pradeep Kumar Pandey, was trying to stop the accused from fleeing when the latter allegedly drove off with him on the bonnet.The incident occurred around 9.35pm near Nerul pond in Sector 20. Pandey, who was bleeding heavily after being hit on the head, recorded part of the incident on his mobile phone while holding onto the bonnet with his other hand. He allegedly shouted for help and repeatedly pleaded with the driver to stop, warning that he could fall and be killed.According to the FIR, Pandey had dropped two passengers at Seawoods Grand Central Mall around 9.30pm after picking them up from Andheri. He was then heading towards Sarsole for a family birthday party when the car driver, who was repeatedly honking, allegedly confronted him after Pandey changed lanes to give way.The Swift driver allegedly accused Pandey of dangerously cutting in while overtaking, punched him on the nose and abused him. When Pandey objected to the abuse, the accused allegedly returned to his car, took out a bamboo stick and struck him on the head, causing severe bleeding.When the accused got into his car and tried to leave, Pandey allegedly lay on the bonnet to stop him until police arrived. The driver instead allegedly drove for around 2km with Pandey clinging to the bonnet. When the car slowed down, Pandey jumped off and the driver sped away.Pandey later called his cousin Dipanshu Pandey, who took him to NMMC’s Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul. After first aid, he was referred to the NMMC hospital in Vashi, where he received sutures for his head injury and underwent a CT scan.Nerul senior inspector Ajay Kamble said an FIR has been registered against Lalit Arjun Patil, a Juinagar resident, based on the car registration number provided by Pandey. Police have invoked relevant BNS sections relating to voluntarily causing hurt/grievous hurt using dangerous means, voluntarily causing hurt, rash and negligent driving endangering human life, and causing hurt through a rash or negligent act. Patil is yet to be arrested. — George Mendonca
