Rahul Gandhi’s driver booked for injuring cop during rally in Bihar’s Nawada

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s SUV driver has been booked for severely injuring a police constable after he fell in front of the vehicle during a rally in Bhagat Singh Chowk in Bihar's Nawada district. The incident happened on Tuesday (Aug 19) during the Voter Adhikar Yatra of Gandhi and his allies, including RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav.

The constable, identified as Mahesh Kumar, is a personal security officer with the Nawada sub-divisional police officer and was deployed as part of the security arrangement for the rally.

While the name of the driver and further details were not immediately disclosed, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Dhiman told PTI that additional information will be shared in due time. Initially, Dhiman said that the constable sustained injuries after he tripped in front of the convoy vehicle that “barely brushed against his feet”. However, doctors at a local hospital, where Kumar was treated, later confirmed that Kumar had sustained a leg fracture.

The video of the incident has gone viral, sparking widespread criticism. In the video, Kumar can be seen limping away after being freed from under the vehicle’s wheel. The post claimed that he had been critically injured.

The incident was slammed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which criticised the Congress. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala dubbed the rally the “Crush Janta Yatra”. He also alleged that the constable had been “crushed” under the vehicle, further fueling the controversy surrounding the incident.
In a post on X, Poonawala wrote, “the Voter Adhikar Yatra has become Crush Janta Yatra.”

“Rahul Gandhi’s car crushed a police constable who was critically injured. The dynast did not even step out to check on him,” he added.

Responding to Poonawala, Bihar Congress spokesperson Asith Nath Tiwary told PTI, “All BJP leaders, including even those at the very top, are known for peddling lies. The party is rattled by the success of the yatra, a reason why it has asked its spokespersons to spread rumours.”