On the night of August 8, a 39‑year‑old fitness trainer from Mahim, Arjun Garewal, was driving home with his wife Bhakti after a dinner in Bandra. Their SUV was overtaken repeatedly on SV Road near Sahil Hotel, setting the stage for a road‑rage confrontation.
The situation escalated when the SUV, occupied by five men, slowed to block the Garewals’ vehicle. The assailants then emerged armed with baseball bats and hockey sticks, smashing the car’s windows and physically assaulting Arjun while Bhakti remained inside, terrified.
Bhakti, fearing for her safety, managed to contact the local police from her mobile phone. The distress call prompted a swift response, but the attackers fled the scene after the initial blows, leaving the couple shaken and the vehicle heavily damaged.
Police response and legal action
Police later detained three suspects — identified as Anas K, 25, and Bilal Shaikh, 30, along with another individual — under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for assault and criminal intimidation. The arrests were made in the days following the incident, though two of the accused remain at large.
Investigators noted the registration number of the offending SUV and are pursuing leads to locate the remaining perpetrators. The case has drawn attention to rising incidents of violent road‑rage in the western suburbs, with officials promising a thorough review of security footage and witness statements.
Impact on the victims
The assault has left the Garewals grappling with both physical injuries and emotional distress. Bhakti has taken a leave of absence from her position as an HR director at a university, citing the need to recover from the trauma. Community members have expressed solidarity, urging authorities to adopt stricter measures against aggressive driving and weapon‑laden confrontations on city roads.