Rs 30,000, five days prison for a minute's rage; locals start crowdfunding to help Bengaluru auto driver

BENGALURU: It was just last week that auto driver R Muthuraj in Bengaluru gained infamy for slapping a girl student after she cancelled his auto at the last moment. The video of the incident went super viral on social media and later Magadi Road police arrested the driver and slapped him with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 74 for outraging the modesty of women.

And now, Muthuraj’s sudden outburst and attack on the student have made him languish in jail for a week while the auto driver should also pay Rs 30,000 to get out on bail. Muthuraj will have to wait until next Monday in jail before even thinking about bail.

And now, in a major surprise, locals in Bengaluru have started crowdfunding to help Muthuraj come out on bail. There have been many requests on social media to help the auto driver.

“It was a sudden response that came from losing a customer and the mental stress also added to the worries. The response should not be justified but his terrible situation needs to be considered. We need Rs 30,000 to bring him out on bail. Are there any lawyers interested in bailing Muthuraj?” this was the description that appeared on social media.

"I will pay Rs 1000 for him,” wrote Mohan Dasari on social media X. With this, many people came forward offering help to Muthuraj. At the same time, many women came forward despising the crowdfunding initiative, raising fear of such attempts further aggravating attacks against women in public places.

A woman in #Bengaluru has alleged that she was harassed and physically assaulted by an auto driver after she canceled a ride booked through #Ola. The incident occurred on Wednesday when she and her friend booked two autos. pic.twitter.com/ILhsgYXCG7

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) September 5, 2024