Retired Army Colonel Brutally Assaulted and Extorted in Gurgaon Road Rage Incident
A shocking case of road rage and criminal extortion has emerged from Gurgaon, where a retired Army colonel was allegedly assaulted, his luxury SUV vandalized, and forced to transfer money under duress following a minor car collision. The incident occurred on Sunday night near Vatika Chowk on Faridabad Road, sending shockwaves through the city's law enforcement and veteran communities.
The Fateful Collision and Immediate Aftermath
Colonel Anil Yadav (retired), a resident of Sector 60 in his late fifties, was returning home after visiting his ailing father at Medanta Hospital. Driving his MG Gloster SUV toward Golf Course Road, his vehicle collided with a Hyundai i20 Sportz (registration H336AN/0323) near Vatika Chowk. Police investigations are currently exploring two primary scenarios: whether Colonel Yadav struck the i20 while attempting an overtaking maneuver, or whether the i20, traveling on the right side, suddenly swerved left, leaving insufficient reaction time.
According to the detailed complaint filed at Sector 50 police station on Monday, the retired officer pulled over after the collision to assess the damage. What followed was a harrowing ordeal that lasted approximately thirty minutes. The five occupants of the i20 allegedly dragged Colonel Yadav by his collar, pinned him to the ground, and subjected him to a sustained physical assault involving punches and blows.
The Violent Assault and Financial Extortion
The violence escalated when one of the assailants reportedly used a copper water bottle from Colonel Yadav's own vehicle to strike him repeatedly on the head and face. The attackers then proceeded to vandalize the retired officer's SUV, damaging multiple lights and windows with what police described as a beer bottle. In a particularly alarming development, the youths attempted to force Colonel Yadav into their vehicle, though this effort failed when their car wouldn't start.
The retired Army officer was then coerced into transferring Rs 30,000 through UPI as what the assailants termed "compensation" for the damage to their vehicle. This financial transaction under duress represents a clear case of extortion according to legal experts familiar with the matter.
Police Response and Medical Assessment
Sukhbir, the Station House Officer of Sector 50 police station, confirmed that Colonel Yadav sustained visible injuries to his head and face from the copper water bottle assault. "The victim suffered injuries on the head and face. According to him, the accused hit him with a copper water bottle which was inside his SUV. One of the suspects was holding a beer bottle with which he damaged his car," stated SHO Sukhbir during a press briefing.
Medical personnel at Medanta Hospital, where Colonel Yadav was admitted for treatment, confirmed that while he suffered a head injury with external bleeding, subsequent scans revealed no skull penetration or intracranial damage. Hospital sources described the injuries as significant but not life-threatening.
Arrests and Suspect Backgrounds
In a swift police response, all five suspects were arrested on Monday following the filing of the formal complaint. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Pankaj (23)
- Vikas (21)
- Nikhil (21)
- Sahil (22)
- Ankit Kumar (22)
Police spokesperson Sandeep Turan revealed that the accused hail from Rewari and Mahendergarh districts and had traveled to Gurgaon to attend a wedding in Badshapur on February 21. Three of the suspects—Pankaj, Sahil, and Ankit—are employed at a private company in Rewari, while Vikas is a second-year BA student and Nikhil is pursuing his second year of BCom studies.
Legal Proceedings and Conflicting Accounts
An extensive First Information Report has been registered against the five accused under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 115(2) - Voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 190 - Every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of any offence committed to achieve the group's common goal
- Section 191(2) - Rioting
- Section 351(2) - Criminal intimidation
- Section 281 - Reckless, negligent, or dangerous driving/riding on public roads
- Section 125 - Rash or negligent acts that endanger human life or personal safety
- Section 324(4) - Mischief
- Section 308(4) - Extortion
A relative of the arrested youths has presented a conflicting narrative, insisting that Colonel Yadav was at fault for the initial collision, claiming he struck their i20 on the rear side while attempting to overtake from the left. This account directly contradicts the retired officer's version of events and will likely form a crucial aspect of the ongoing investigation.
Veteran Community Reaction
The incident has generated significant concern within military veteran circles. Earlier on the day of the assault, another retired Army officer, Colonel Rohit Dev, took to social media platform X to highlight the attack, stating that Colonel Yadav was returning from Medanta Hospital when he was punched and attacked with beer bottles. This early reporting helped bring attention to the serious nature of the incident before formal police complaints were filed.
The Gurgaon police have assured the public that they are conducting a thorough investigation into all aspects of the case, including the exact circumstances of the initial collision, the sequence of events during the assault, and the financial extortion component. The case continues to develop as forensic evidence is collected and witness statements are verified.
