A video of a couple assaulting a cab driver in Mumbai has gone viral. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the couple for the assault and the husband has been arrested by the Mumbai police on Sunday.
The cab driver has been identified as 24-year-old Qayamuddin Mainuddin Qureshi who is driving for Ola. The incident occured on August 18, around 11:20 P.M., according to the information provided by the officials.
The Assualt
The incident unfolded when 35-year-old journalist, Rishabh Chakravarti, and his wife, Antara Ghosh, 27, were out in their Audi and “dashed” Qureshi’s car from the rear. This took place when the complainant was going from the Asalpha metro station and had a passenger in the car.
When Qureshi got out to check for any damages on his vehicle, the couple got out of the Audi and started abusing him. The complainant’s report indicates that Ghosh, the wife, had allegedly “pulled the Ola cab device” from the victim’s car and left the spot.
An official stated that Qureshi had followed the Audi and his vehicle hit Rishabh Chakravarti’s vehicle, which angered the journalist resulting in him slapping the 24-year-old. This took place at the entrance of a building opposite a mall in Ghatkopar.
Following the slap, “Chakravarti lifted Qureshi and slammed him to the ground, resulting in the latter suffering head injuries,” said the official.
The altercation was captured on the CCTV in front of the building and showed that the journalist just walked back to his car after assaulting Qureshi while his wife, who witnessed the incident, checked up on the rear of the car to check for damages.
He is Rishabh Chaktavorthy who smashed Ola cab driver to the ground in Mumbai. This thug hasn’t been arrested yet.
— Shilpa (@shilpa_cn) August 31, 2024
Look at the attitude of his family members! They just left the driver unconscious and not bothered to look back if he survived or no!pic.twitter.com/6Fajd7SZ2f
The CCTV footage has now become viral with users on X (Formerly known as Twitter) calling the journalist out with some even referring to him by the term “thug”.
Coward journalist Rishabh Chaktavorthy slaps and smashes an Ola cab driver to the ground in Mumbai after latter mildly touches his car. Employed with @moneycontrolcom until June this year, this pathetic thug hasn’t been arrested yet. pic.twitter.com/Nto41rTae2
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) August 30, 2024
The Aftermath
Qureshi, who was left injured on the ground by his assaulter, was first taken to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar by the security personnel. However, due to the intensity of his injuries, he was shifted to the state-run JJ Hospital.
Qureshi, a resident of Govandi, filed a case against the couple upon regaining consciousness after sustaining injuries to his head and body.
Notices have been issued to Rishabh Chakravarti and Antara Ghosh and the investigation into the case is ongoing. Statements from both, the journalist and his wife, have been recorded by the police.
Chakravarti’s former workplace, Money Control, has responded to the incident on X.
We are shocked by the violent actions of this individual, who has been identified as a former employee of Moneycontrol.
— Moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) August 30, 2024
Mr. Rishabh Chakravorty resigned from Moneycontrol and has not been associated with us since June this year. https://t.co/auHMaTLwo5
