Bengaluru Hit-And-Run: Kannada Actor Divya Suresh Identified as Alleged Driver

Bengaluru traffic police identified Kannada actress and former Bigg Boss Kannada contestant Divya Suresh as the alleged driver of a black car involved in a hit-and-run accident that injured three people near Nithya Hotel in Byatarayanapura on October 4, marking a breakthrough in a case initially logged as involving an unidentified vehicle operated by a woman. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when the speeding car collided with a motorcycle carrying Kiran G and his cousins Anusha and Anitha, who were en route to a hospital for a family member's medical emergency.

An FIR was registered on October 7 following Kiran's complaint, detailing how the driver fled despite pleas for help, leaving the victims stranded until police arranged an auto-rickshaw for transport. The victims, residents of Bengaluru originally from Andhra Pradesh, suffered varying degrees of harm: Kiran and Anusha with minor injuries, while Anitha endured a fractured leg necessitating surgery at BGS Hospital, incurring significant medical costs for the family.

Investigators pieced together the sequence using CCTV footage from the vicinity, which captured the car's movements before and after the crash, leading to the vehicle's seizure and confirmation of Suresh's involvement as both owner and driver. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) West, Dr Anoop Shetty, confirmed the breakthrough, stating that the probe is ongoing to ascertain factors like potential overspeeding or reckless driving, with preliminary indications pointing to the motorcycle being overloaded.

Reports suggest Suresh may have secured the car's release overnight post-seizure, though authorities are scrutinising this amid allegations of procedural lapses. The case, filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for rash and negligent driving causing hurt and fleeing the scene, highlights Bengaluru's escalating road safety crisis, where hit-and-runs have surged 15% year-on-year per Karnataka traffic data, often linked to urban congestion and delayed reporting.

Divya Suresh, known for her roles in Kannada television serials like Radha Ramana and Agni Sakshi, gained wider recognition as a Bigg Boss Kannada housemate in Season 8, where her candid persona endeared her to audiences before a low-profile phase following a personal accident three years prior that prompted a social media hiatus. Her identification has sparked public outrage on platforms like X, with hashtags such as #JusticeForHitAndRun trending locally, as netizens decry celebrity impunity and demand swift accountability. Suresh responded philosophically on social media with "Truth alone triumphs," invoking Satyameva Jayate, but has not elaborated publicly, fuelling speculation about cooperation with authorities.

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This episode underscores broader systemic issues in India's road accident ecosystem, where over 1.5 lakh fatalities occur annually per National Crime Records Bureau figures, disproportionately affecting two-wheeler riders in metros like Bengaluru. Advocacy groups like Citizens for Justice and Peace have renewed calls for mandatory dashcams, stricter licensing for high-profile individuals, and victim compensation funds, citing similar cases involving actors like Salman Khan in 2002. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on victim rehabilitation and ensuring Suresh faces due process, potentially setting a precedent for enforcement in a city grappling with 1,200 daily collisions.

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