Published on: October 30, 2025 | 5:00 PM IST
Renowned filmmaker, writer, and social commentator Varun Grover has expressed outrage over a disturbing incident in Bengaluru, where a Zepto delivery agent was allegedly killed in a road rage incident that authorities are now investigating as a premeditated attack. The incident, captured on CCTV and widely circulated on social media, has triggered public debate about road rage, class dynamics, and the safety of delivery personnel in urban India.
The Incident
The incident reportedly occurred when Darshan, a Zepto delivery agent, was off duty and riding with a friend in Bengaluru. According to police reports and CCTV footage, a car allegedly driven by a couple, identified as Manoj Kumar and Aarti Sharma, struck Darshan’s bike from behind after a minor dent occurred on their vehicle.
The CCTV footage, which has gone viral, shows the couple pursuing Darshan for approximately two kilometers before ramming his bike, killing him instantly and injuring his pillion rider. Disturbingly, the couple appeared to return to the scene after the attack to retrieve parts of the car and remove evidence, seemingly unaware of the CCTV cameras that had captured the act.
Authorities have since arrested Manoj Kumar and Aarti Sharma in connection with the alleged crime. The pillion rider survived with injuries and was reportedly treated at a nearby hospital.
Varun Grover’s Response
Reacting to the harrowing video, Varun Grover took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his strong condemnation. He wrote:
“This is not road rage, this is hate crime. This is disgust of the moneyed for those who can be termed as sub-human because of their class, caste, religion, or gender. And all of this hatred neatly ties in with the central political motto of our times. The privileged have all the impunity, the underprivileged have none.”
Grover’s post highlighted the broader societal implications he sees in the incident, framing it not as a spontaneous act of road rage but as a symptom of deep-seated societal prejudice and the impunity enjoyed by the privileged.
Public Reaction
The post quickly went viral, with thousands of social media users expressing outrage and demanding justice for the victim. Many echoed Grover’s sentiments, calling for stringent punishment for the accused couple. Comments on social media ranged from calls for life imprisonment to broader concerns about urban lawlessness:
- One user wrote, “Premeditated murder. The driver should never see open air again. And the accomplice should be given a fitting punishment.”
- Another commented, “Wait for next 5 years if nothing changes with regime, we will surely be a doomed nation. Towards absolute lawlessness!”
- Some users urged caution in politicizing the tragedy: “Murder. Another grave murder, comments politicizing the issue with anti-regional masala. Idiots should stay off social media.”
These reactions underscore the public’s frustration with repeated incidents of road rage and perceived social inequalities in India.
Context: Road Rage and Delivery Personnel Safety
This incident has reignited conversations around the vulnerability of delivery personnel in India, many of whom navigate congested city streets under time pressure and often face harassment or violence. While road rage is not uncommon in metropolitan cities, the severity of this attack, combined with the apparent premeditation, has led experts and commentators to classify it as more than just a typical traffic altercation.
In recent years, similar incidents involving delivery agents and gig economy workers have sparked debates about urban safety, legal accountability, and the societal hierarchy that often leaves lower-income workers at greater risk.
Police Action
The Bengaluru police have confirmed that Manoj Kumar and Aarti Sharma are in custody. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and vehicle evidence to build a case against the accused. The police have categorized the case as a murder investigation, given the deliberate nature of the attack, and are expected to seek severe legal action.
While details of the motive are still emerging, authorities are treating this as a high-profile case, and public pressure is mounting for a swift and transparent investigation.
Wider Implications
Varun Grover’s statement frames the incident as symptomatic of larger societal issues—class disparity, lack of accountability, and the normalization of aggression by the privileged against marginalized individuals. By labeling the murder a “hate crime,” Grover emphasizes that such acts are not isolated events but reflect systemic inequities and societal tolerance for violence against the vulnerable.
The case has drawn attention not only from the general public but also from advocacy groups highlighting the rights and safety of gig workers, calling for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and harsher penalties for crimes against delivery personnel.
Conclusion
The tragic death of Darshan, the Zepto delivery agent in Bengaluru, has sparked nationwide outrage and initiated important conversations about road rage, class, and justice. With Manoj Kumar and Aarti Sharma in custody, authorities face the challenge of ensuring a fair investigation while addressing the broader societal questions raised by this incident.
Meanwhile, public figures like Varun Grover continue to amplify the discourse, reminding society that such acts of violence are not merely accidents of circumstance but, in some cases, manifestations of systemic inequality and impunity.
The case remains under investigation, and the country waits to see justice served for the victim and his family.
Leave a Reply