World · South & Central Asia · 11 hrs ago
Bhubaneswar man accused of another series of road attacks after fatal crash
A 20-year-old man, Soumya Ranjan Rath, was arrested in Bhubaneswar after police said his car hit people on Monday morning.
Police allege he first struck a person by the roadside, then returned and rammed into a couple on a two-wheeler who had stopped to help.
They also say he had earlier hit a roadside hotel owner and staff members.
Police allege Rath was under the influence of alcohol.
In July, he was arrested after a crash involving his family’s car killed a two-wheeler rider; he was later released on bail.
Police say four criminal cases are now registered against him and that he allegedly violated his bail conditions.
They plan to investigate quickly and seek to cancel his earlier bail, while saying a new bail release will not be easy.
Soumya Ranjan Rath was accused of hitting people with his car in Bhubaneswar on October 12, three months after a fatal crash.
Police said he first hit a person by the roadside, then returned and rammed into a couple who had stopped to help.
Police said Rath had also caused an earlier road accident involving a roadside hotel’s owner and staff.
He was rescued from an angry mob and booked under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Rath was arrested in July after a crash that killed a two-wheeler rider and was later released on bail.
- Who
- Soumya Ranjan Rath, a 20-year-old law student and son of a real estate developer, was accused. Police also said he had been drinking with friends.
- What
- He was accused of hitting people with his car in several incidents. Police booked him under Sections 109(1), 281, 125(a) and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- When
- The latest incidents happened on the morning of October 12, 2026. Police said Rath and friends had been drinking through the night of October 11.
- Where
- Bhubaneswar, including near Kesura Square and at a roadside hotel.
- Why
- Police alleged that Rath deliberately rammed into people with the intention of killing them. His motive is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Rath was arrested after a crash involving a two-wheeler that killed its rider.
Police said Rath and his friends had been drinking throughout the night.
Rath’s car hit a person by the roadside and drove away towards Kesura Square.
Rath returned and allegedly rammed into a couple on a two-wheeler who had stopped to help the injured person.
People detained Rath after his car’s electric motor stalled as he tried to turn around.
- Accused
- Soumya Ranjan Rath
- Latest incidents
- October 12, 2026, Bhubaneswar
- Police charges
- BNS Sections 109(1), 281, 125(a) and 324(4)
- Earlier fatal crash
- July 2026; a two-wheeler rider was killed
- Cases registered
- Four criminal cases at Badagada police station
What people are saying
We will conduct the investigation expeditiously and ensure that the chargesheet is watertight.
As he is a habitual offender, securing bail again will not be easy.
During the course of the investigation, it also came to light that, before committing this offence, the driver (Rath) had already caused a road accident involving the owner and staff members of a roadside hotel, allegedly with the intention of killing them,
Sources
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