From Cricket Match to Cold-Blooded Killing: The Truth Behind the Bengaluru Murder
In the quiet lanes of Electronics City, Bengaluru, a night of camaraderie after a cricket match descended into a nightmare. What bystanders first assumed was a horrific but accidental crash was, in fact, a calculated and brutal act of murder. This is the story of how a simple dispute over a cigarette lighter between two friends, fueled by alcohol, culminated in a chilling crime that has sent shockwaves across the city.
The Bengaluru murder of Prashanth M by his friend, software engineer Roshan Hegde, stands as a grim reminder of how quickly situations can spiral out of control. The key piece of evidence that transformed this case from a potential tragedy of negligence to a clear-cut homicide was the vehicle’s own silent witness: its dashcam.
Table of Contents
- The Fatal Night: A Dispute Over a Cigarette Lighter
- Dashcam Footage Reveals All: From Accident to Murder
- Police Investigation: How the Case Was Re-Classified
- Legal Charges: Understanding the IPC Sections in Play
- Conclusion: A Stark Warning About Drunk Driving and Rage
- Sources
The Fatal Night: A Dispute Over a Cigarette Lighter
The evening began innocuously enough. Roshan Hegde and his friend Prashanth M had just finished playing in a local cricket tournament. To celebrate, they decided to have a few drinks. However, as the night wore on and the alcohol flowed, a minor disagreement erupted. Reports indicate the argument was sparked by something as trivial as a cigarette lighter [[6]].
Their friendship, once strong, seemed to evaporate in the heat of their drunken anger. The situation escalated rapidly, moving from verbal sparring to physical confrontation. In a state of rage, Roshan got into his SUV, with Prashanth, in a desperate attempt to de-escalate or perhaps continue the argument, clinging to the side of the vehicle [[1]].
Dashcam Footage Reveals All: From Accident to Murder
At first glance, the scene that unfolded on Ananthnagar Road looked like a terrible accident. A passerby reported a crash, and emergency services were called. However, when police reviewed the SUV’s dashcam footage, the truth became horrifyingly clear [[19]].
The video showed Roshan Hegde, with Prashanth M clinging to the passenger side, deliberately accelerating. He first rammed the vehicle into a tree at a speed of around 35 kmph. When that didn’t achieve his apparent goal, he reversed and then intentionally drove the SUV straight into a compound wall [[3]]. The impact was fatal for Prashanth, who was crushed on the spot [[7]].
This wasn’t a case of rash driving or a loss of control; it was a targeted, two-part assault using a vehicle as a weapon. The dashcam footage provided irrefutable proof of intent, turning what could have been a case under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) into a clear-cut Bengaluru murder case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) [[18]].
Police Investigation: How the Case Was Re-Classified
Based on a formal complaint filed by Prashanth’s mother, Anu, the Hebbagodi police launched a thorough investigation [[10]]. The initial assumption of a road accident was quickly discarded once the digital evidence was analyzed. The steering patterns and the deliberate nature of the two crashes indicated a clear, malicious intent that went far beyond mere negligence [[5]].
DCP M Narayana of the Electronics City division confirmed that the evidence pointed squarely to murder, leading to Roshan Hegde’s immediate arrest on serious charges [[3]]. This case highlights the critical role modern technology, like dashcams, plays in delivering justice and uncovering the truth behind seemingly ambiguous incidents.
Legal Charges: Understanding the IPC Sections in Play
In India, cases involving vehicles and fatalities can fall under several legal provisions. Initially, a drunk driving incident resulting in death might be charged under:
- Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act: For driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Section 304A of the IPC: For causing death by a rash or negligent act.
However, when there is clear evidence of intent to cause death, the charge escalates to the most serious one possible.
| Charge | Description | Potential Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| IPC Section 302 | Punishment for Murder | Death penalty or life imprisonment, and a fine |
| IPC Section 304A | Causing death by negligence | Up to 2 years imprisonment, or a fine, or both |
| MV Act Sec 185 | Driving under the influence | First offence: Up to 6 months & fine; Subsequent: Up to 2 years & fine |
Given the deliberate actions captured on video, the authorities have rightly pursued a charge of murder under IPC 302, which carries the most severe penalties under Indian law [[18]]. This distinction is crucial for ensuring that the punishment fits the gravity of the crime. For more information on legal frameworks surrounding vehicular crimes, you can refer to resources from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways [INTERNAL_LINK:indian-traffic-laws].
Conclusion: A Stark Warning About Drunk Driving and Rage
The tragic Bengaluru murder of Prashanth M is a sobering tale that underscores multiple societal issues: the dangers of drinking and driving, the volatility of unchecked anger, and the devastating consequences of letting a momentary dispute turn violent. While the dashcam footage was instrumental in securing justice for the victim, it also serves as a chilling public record of a life taken in a fit of rage.
This case is a stark reminder that our actions, especially when impaired by alcohol, have irreversible consequences. It also demonstrates the power of technology in holding individuals accountable for their crimes. As this case proceeds through the courts, it will undoubtedly serve as a precedent for how similar incidents of vehicular homicide are investigated and prosecuted in the future.
Sources
- [[1]] Latestly: “Bengaluru Shocker: Drunken Post-Cricket Match Brawl Ends in Murder”
- [[3]] Times of India: “‘Accident’ that wasn’t: Bengaluru techie crashes SUV twice…”
- [[5]] The Times Patriot: “Bengaluru ‘Accident’ Now Probed as Cold-Blooded Murder”
- [[6]] The New Indian Express: “Cigarette lighter spat turns fatal as man dies…”
- [[7]] X (Twitter) Post by @prajwaldza
- [[10]] Times of India: “‘Accident’ that wasn’t: Bengaluru techie crashes SUV twice…”
- [[18]] The Times Patriot: “Bengaluru ‘Accident’ Now Probed as Cold-Blooded Murder”
- [[19]] Instagram Reel: “What a passer-by reported as a road crash turned out to be…”