Mon Jun 02 09:54:29 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
An IT employee, Pankhuri Mishra, arrested for assaulting an autorickshaw driver, Lokesh, in Bellandur, Bangalore, has issued an unconditional apology to him and his family. The incident occurred on May 31st when Mishra accused Lokesh of grazing her two-wheeler. The assault, captured in a video, sparked outrage, leading to protests. Mishra, accompanied by her husband, sought forgiveness through the autorickshaw drivers’ union.
**News Article:**
**IT Employee Apologizes After Assaulting Autorickshaw Driver in Bangalore**
**Bengaluru, June 2, 2025** – Pankhuri Mishra, an IT professional arrested for assaulting an autorickshaw driver in Bellandur, Bangalore, has issued a public apology to the driver, Lokesh, and his family. The incident occurred on May 31st when Mishra accused Lokesh of deliberately grazing her two-wheeler near Centro Mall, escalating into a heated argument and physical assault.
Lokesh recorded the incident, capturing Mishra striking him with her slipper and verbally abusing him. The video quickly went viral, sparking condemnation from the autorickshaw drivers’ community and Kannada activists, who staged protests demanding strict action.
Following her arrest and release on bail, Mishra, accompanied by her husband, sought forgiveness through the intervention of the autorickshaw drivers’ union. In a statement, Mishra, who is pregnant, expressed remorse for her actions, stating, “I am not against Kannada or the people of Karnataka.” The apology was filmed and shared widely on social media. The case highlights tensions regarding respect for local communities and cultures within Bangalore’s large expatriate population.
First Piper 