Woman slapped for objecting to rash driving in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 14, 2018: Police on March 13,  Tuesday arrested a cab driver allegedly assaulting a woman passenger who objected to his reckless driving.

The accused cab driver has been identified as Dayanand (30), a resident of Belthangady and currently staying in Attavar. Police have also seized his cab.

The incident took place on March 11, when two women from Mumbai – the complainant Sharin Mantri and her friend Smitha Thackeray, the ex-daughter-in-law of Bal Thackeray, were in city visiting temples and others places.

According to police, after landing at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on March 9, the duo hired a cab.

On March 11, the women were to board a return flight to Mumbai from MIA at 6.30pm.

While they were returning from Bantwal, the cab driver started talking over phone while driving, to which Sharin and Smita objected. They had asked him to stop using cellphone nearly three times during the journey. They also alleged that they narrowly escaped from the accident as well.

Further, the driver, who stopped using phone after repeated requests, started to drive the cab in a reckless manner.

Irked with his unruly behaviour, Smita and Sharin reportedly forced him to stop the car just few kilometres before MIA, somewhere near Marakada.


They planned to take another vehicle to reach the airport, which angered the driver and he slapped Sharin in a fit of rage.

Kudos to the women. What I do not understand is how does this amount to sexual harassment!!Anand Panangipally

The women reached Kavoor police station and filed a complaint against the driver. Based on their complaint, Dayanand was arrested and produced before a city court.

Dayanand has been booked under various sactions of the Indian Penal Code including 279 (rash driving), 504 (intentional insult), 354 (sexual harassment) and 323 (hurt).