Rebuked for driving on wrong side of road, autorickshaw driver assaults real estate consultant in Punawale; held

Pune: A reprimand against wrong-side driving spiralled into a roadside violence in Punawale on Sunday afternoon when an enraged autorickshaw driver allegedly attacked a 34-year-old real estate consultant near his house with a jack, leaving the latter with a deep gash on his left palm. The Ravet police tracked down and arrested the accused on Monday.According to the police, the incident unfolded near the house of the Punawale-based real estate consultant. "The consultant was driving his car when he spotted an autorickshaw hurtling towards him from the wrong side of the road. Alarmed, he stopped the car and questioned the autorickshaw driver, later identified as Santosh Bhosale (27) of Mulshi, for flouting traffic rules and putting lives at risk," an officer from the Ravet police said, citing the complaint registered by the real estate consultant."What began as a verbal reprimand quickly escalated into a heated argument. Autorickshaw driver Bhosale started abusing the real estate consultant and soon forced him out of his four-wheeler. In a sudden burst of violence, Bhosale picked up a jack from inside the autorickshaw and attacked the real estate consultant, striking his left palm," the officer said.The officer said the victim suffered a deep cut on his plan and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors administered seven stitches. After receiving the treatment, the real estate consultant approached the Ravet police and filed a complaint. "The victim provided us with the registration number of the autorickshaw and other details," the officer said.Based on the complaint, the police tracked down and arrested the autorickshaw driver on Monday under Section 118 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). "Further investigation is under way," the officer added.