Crowd beats up constable driver for colliding with bike

February 21, 2011

Mangalore, February 21: It was a rough initiation in to the world of policing for IPS probationary officer Abhinav Khare who was nearly manhandled by an irate crowd after an official vehicle in which he was travelling collided with a motorcycle causing grievous injuries to two persons at Ballalbagh in the city here on Sunday. The crowd manhandled Akbar Basha, a District Armed Reserve police constable who was driving the vehicle when the accident took place.

The accident took place around 3.15pm when Akbar took a right turn at Ballalbagh junction median and crashed in to the oncoming motorcycle driven by Sandeep and Joel Crasta riding pillion. The impact of the accident was such that both were thrown off the motorcycle and Joel ended up on the steps of a nearby medical store in the basement of a building. A crowd that gathered at the spot manhandled Akbar and advanced menacingly on Abhinav.

Efforts by the probationary officer to explain the procedure to the crowd did not cut ice with them, some of whom were in an inebriated condition and who demanded that he summon the driver, who by then had left the spot with the victims to the district government hospital, and hand him over to them. Abhinav asked the crowd to register a complaint against the errant driver based on which the jurisdictional police would initiate action against him.

Abhinav reported to the DK rural police unit for his probationary training on Saturday.

The fact that he did not know the local language and the crowd did not understand Hindi, the language he spoke only complicated issues. It was the timely intervention by the media which saved Abhinav from the crowds ire and he later left the spot in another departmental vehicle, by which time senior police officials including Mangalore ACP Ravindra K G arrived.

ACP Ravindra assured the protesting crowd that action would be initiated against the departmental driver. In a related development, the Barke police have registered a case against the group that beat up Akbar on charges of preventing a public servant from discharging his duties and assaulting him while on duty and efforts are on to round them up. Traffic West police are separately investigating the case against Akbar, who allegedly caused the accident.

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From Dubai boom to Bengaluru backlash: Inside CJ Roy’s journey

News Network

January 31,2026

Bengaluru: The shooting incident involving CJ Roy, founder of the Confident Group, has once again put the spotlight on a businessman whose life has swung between flamboyant global success and persistent controversy at home.

Though Roy’s business interests extended across continents, his roots lay firmly in Karnataka. An alumnus of Christ School in Bengaluru, he later moved to Tumakuru to pursue an engineering degree. Those familiar with his early years describe him as intensely ambitious, beginning his career as a salesman at a small electronics firm dealing in computers.

Roy’s entry into large-scale real estate came through the Crystal Group, where he worked closely with Latha Namboothiri and rose from manager to director. However, the launch of the Confident Group in 2005 was clouded by industry speculation. Insiders speak of a fallout involving alleged “benami” properties and claims of deception that ultimately led to his independent venture—an episode Roy spent years trying to distance himself from, according to associates.

A tale of two cities

Roy’s professional trajectory diverged sharply across geographies.

In Dubai, he built a reputation as a bold and efficient developer, completing massive luxury residential projects in record time—some reportedly within 11 months. His rapid project delivery and lavish lifestyle in the Emirates earned him admiration and visibility in the real estate sector.

In Bengaluru, however, his image remained far more fractured. Sources say Roy stayed away from the city for several years amid disputes over unpaid dues to vendors and suppliers. Several projects were allegedly stalled, with accusations of unfulfilled commitments to cement and steel suppliers continuing to follow him.

Roy’s return to Bengaluru’s business and social circles began around 2018, marked by a conscious attempt at rebranding. His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic added diplomatic legitimacy, which he complemented with visible CSR initiatives, including ambulance donations and high-profile charity events.

Heavy police presence in Langford Town

Following the incident, police personnel from the Central division were deployed outside the Confident Group building in Langford Town, which also houses the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Bengaluru.

The otherwise busy premises near Hosur Road wore a deserted look on Friday, reflecting the shock and uncertainty that followed the tragedy.

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