Full Breakdown
Man on Bail Arrested After Ramming Car Into Accident Rescuers in Bhubaneswar
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Incident Overview
Around 7:30 a.m. on October 12, Soumya Ranjan Rath, a 20-year-old resident of Bhubaneswar, allegedly drove his car into a person standing by the roadside on the Puri-Bhubaneswar bypass near SR Valley Chhaka. After the initial impact, a couple on a motorcycle—Ratikanta Singh and his wife Annapurna—stopped to assist the injured pedestrian. Police say Rath returned from the opposite direction at high speed and deliberately rammed the couple’s motorcycle, striking additional riders and damaging seven motorcycles in total. The vehicle’s electric motor stalled as Rath attempted to turn around, allowing bystanders to detain him until police intervened.
Prior Allegations and Bail History
Rath was previously arrested in July after a separate incident in which his luxury car ran over a man, resulting in the victim’s death. He was released on bail in August. Police also note a similar intentional collision near Shastri Nagar Chhaka three months earlier, which also involved a fatality. Both earlier cases remain under investigation.
Police Findings and Official Statements
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police allege Rath acted under the influence of alcohol and targeted individuals multiple times during the October 12 episode. Bhubaneswar Zone-4 ACP Abhimanyu Nayak stated that Rath had earlier driven his vehicle into a roadside dhaba owner and staff following a dispute, and that the recent rampage appeared premeditated. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has initiated proceedings to cancel Rath’s driving licence and deregister the vehicle involved.
Legal Actions and Vehicle Seizure
Police have registered five criminal cases against Rath: four at Badagada police station and one at Kharavela Nagar police station, including charges of attempted murder, rash driving, endangering life and property damage under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The car used in the October 12 incident, along with three additional vehicles damaged in related accidents, has been seized. Rath was produced before a court on the day of arrest.