Mob Justice Fears: Lawyer Drags Man on Car Bonnet to Escape Crowd in India

By ATISH
America News World

RANCHI, INDIA – A dramatic incident unfolded on the streets of Ranchi city on Tuesday, when a man was seen clinging to the bonnet of a moving luxury car driven by a high-profile lawyer. The entire scene was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, sparking a heated debate about road rage, mob mentality, and self-preservation.

The incident occurred near Rajendra Chowk in the Doranda area, under the jurisdiction of the Doranda police station. The car, a high-end vehicle, belongs to Manoj Tandon, a practicing lawyer at the Jharkhand High Court. According to preliminary reports, the lawyer’s car was involved in a minor collision with a motorcycle ridden by a man identified as Mawaj Khan.

The situation quickly escalated from a simple traffic accident into a frightening ordeal for both men.

The Biker’s Account

Speaking to the police, biker Mawaj Khan provided his version of events. He stated that he was traveling from the Doranda side when the lawyer’s car suddenly struck his motorcycle near Rajendra Chowk. The impact, he claimed, damaged his bike’s braking system.

Following the collision, Khan approached the lawyer to demand compensation for the damage to his vehicle. When Tandon refused to pay, an argument broke out between the two men. The commotion quickly drew the attention of passersby, and a substantial crowd began to gather at the scene.

The Lawyer’s Defense

Lawyer Manoj Tandon, however, presented a starkly different narrative to the media and police. He claimed that the biker had suddenly swerved in front of his car from the wrong side of the road, making the collision unavoidable. He insisted that the impact was minor and that neither the biker nor his motorcycle sustained any serious damage.

Tandon alleged that after the accident, Khan blocked his car and aggressively demanded money. He said the demand started at Rs 500 for the bike repairs but quickly escalated to Rs 2,000 within a minute.

The lawyer’s primary defense, however, centered on the mob that formed at the scene. Tandon told the Times of India, “I was harassed and abused by the mob, who wanted me to come out of the car. I could only save myself by staying locked inside the car. There was no other choice for me but to leave the spot or else I had to face death itself.”

He claimed that Khan, who was wearing a helmet, jumped onto the bonnet of his car on his own accord. “Despite asking him to get down, he denied,” Tandon said. Fearing for his safety as the aggressive mob began to chase him, Tandon drove towards his nearby residence in Doranda, with Khan still clinging to the bonnet. The situation became even more tense when the mob followed the car and surrounded his apartment building.

A Settlement and Police Investigation

The dramatic chase ended when police intervened. Both parties were taken to the Doranda police station to file formal complaints. Surprisingly, after discussions at the station, the two men reached a settlement.

Hatia DSP P. K. Mishra provided an official overview of the incident. He confirmed the sequence of events, noting that the crowd’s anger led Tandon to flee the scene. “When Khan demanded compensation, Tandon refused. As a crowd gathered, Tandon, fearing public anger, drove to his nearby residence with Khan clinging to the car’s bonnet,” the DSP said.

He confirmed that both men have lodged written complaints. “We are collecting evidence and investigating the matter. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made,” Mishra added.

Support from the Legal Community

The incident has drawn a strong reaction from the legal fraternity in Jharkhand. Rajendra Krishna, the outgoing chairman of the Jharkhand State Bar Council, came out in strong support of the lawyer. He asserted that Tandon was the victim of harassment and was nearly lynched by an uncontrolled mob.

“There was no other alternative but to run from the spot to save his life,” Krishna stated, framing the lawyer’s actions as a necessary measure for self-preservation in the face of potential mob violence.

The viral video has divided public opinion online. While some viewers condemn the lawyer for dragging a man on his car’s bonnet, others sympathize with his fear of mob violence, a recurring and deadly problem in various parts of India. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the area and gathering statements from witnesses to build a complete picture of what happened.