GURGAON: “Had I stopped right then, those people would have beaten us up,” said Kalyan Bainsla, the accused driver in the Gurgaon Golf Course Road hit-and-run case, as he admitted that the collision with a woman biker was his fault but denied deliberately hitting her.Bainsla, who is a gym owner and describes himself as an international kabaddi player, said he fled the spot after the collision because he feared being attacked by a group of bikers travelling with the woman.The incident took place on Sunday when a car driven by Bainsla allegedly struck the motorcycle of the woman, identified as Sia on social media, on Golf Course Road. The impact knocked her off the bike and sent her skidding several metres on the road. She suffered minor injuries.The collision was captured by cameras mounted on her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike and the footage later surfaced on social media, triggering outrage.
‘I lost control near U-turn’
In an interview with a news channel, Bainsla said he was travelling with his sister and two cousins when the incident occurred. He claimed around 20-22 motorcyclists had sped past his car and that he did not initially realise a woman was among them.According to Bainsla, he asked Sia and a man accompanying her to slow down.“She was turning without checking her mirrors; just then, near a U-turn, I lost control of the car, and the collision occurred. It was my fault; I admit it,” he said.Bainsla said he initially told his brother that they should stop after the crash, but changed his mind after the bikers allegedly began abusing them.“My family was with me, so I feared they might beat us up if we stopped,” he said, adding that he even stopped at a red light to speak to them and explain what had happened, but his brother later refused to stop there.His lawyer, Naveen Bainsla, separately claimed that around 25 riders were repeatedly overtaking the car and alleged that Sia was riding at 140-170 kmph when the collision occurred.
Victim rejects ‘sympathy’ claim
Sia has rejected the accused driver’s version, accusing him of putting on a “sympathy-seeking act” after deliberately chasing and knocking down her two-wheeler.In a video statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, she questioned why the driver would have followed her if he believed she was merely speeding up and slowing down.She also rejected his claim that he did not know a woman was riding the motorcycle, saying her long hair tied in a braid would have made it obvious.Sia said the footage clearly showed the car moving across lanes before hitting her and then leaving the spot.“If you were feeling so much sorrow for me, why didn’t you stop at that time?” she asked, questioning why the occupants did not check whether she was seriously injured after the collision.Her family has also alleged that the collision was deliberate and has sought the addition of sections related to harassment and attempt to murder.Sia’s father said the family had submitted a complaint seeking appropriate legal action, while her brother said they would consider filing a protest petition if the requested charges were not added.
Police register FIR
Gurgaon Police took suo motu cognisance after the collision video surfaced online and registered an FIR at Sector 56 police station.Police said the case was registered under Sections 281 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Three special teams were formed to apprehend the accused, and raids were being conducted at various locations.The police had earlier said that no written complaint had initially been received from Sia and that action was initiated after its Social Media Monitoring Cell intercepted the viral video.The car involved in the incident is registered in the name of Manish, who said he was at work and that Bainsla had borrowed the vehicle from him.Bainsla has since deactivated his Instagram account following the controversy.
