‘Driver showed obscene gestures’; to face legally, says Arya, driver asked to stay away from duty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran came forward with further explanation on the complaint against the driver for driving recklessly without giving way and for showing obscene gestures. Arya Rajendran told media that the KSRTC driver misbehaved with them. She added that the driver was drunk while driving the vehicle, hurled abuses and showed obscene gestures.

‘Soon after the incident, informed Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar about the incident. The KSRTC vigilance team reached the spot as per his direction. This driver has driven the vehicle dangerously earlier also. Many cases have been registered against the driver. FIR has also been registered in all these incidents. The dispute was not related to the issue of not giving way to the vehicle. Arya said that we reacted against the bad behavior towards a woman.

Meantime, KSRTC has asked the driver Yadhu to stay away from duty on the complaint of Mayor Arya Rajendran. He was also asked to appear before the DTO and give an explanation.

The private car in which Arya was traveling along with her husband and MLA Sachin Dev and his family stopped the bus at the signal in front of Saphalyam Complex in Palayam. The incident happened at 10 pm on Saturday. Yadhu, the temporary driver of Thampanoor depot, was arrested by the cantonment police who reached there. As the altercation continued, all 15 passengers in the bus got off. Another driver was brought and the bus was taken to Thampanoor.

Apart from her husband, his brother and sister-in-law were in the car with the mayor. They were returning after attending a wedding reception. The bus had not given them way since Pattom. They later followed the bus and brought it to a stop by overtaking and blocking it in Palayam. However, the Mayor's complaint said the bus that followed at high speed tried to hit the car and the driver showed obscene gestures.