A cab driver has been arrested in Thane, Maharashtra, for allegedly assaulting a 70-year-old senior citizen after the elderly man objected to him spitting near a mall, police said on Thursday. The incident, which took place on Tuesday evening outside Jupiter Hospital near Viviana Mall, has triggered widespread public outrage after a video of the assault went viral on social media.

According to police, the victim, identified as Sarosh Dastur, was walking with his wife around 7 pm when he noticed the cab driver spitting on the road. When Dastur questioned the driver about the act, the accused, identified as Nishant Dhar Shukla, allegedly lost his temper and verbally abused him before launching a violent attack.

The police said the accused allegedly assaulted the elderly man and attempted to strike him with stones and tree branches during the confrontation. The victim sustained injuries in the attack, and the incident was later recorded on video, which quickly spread online, sparking public anger and demands for strict action. Taking cognisance of the matter, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the incident “serious” and directed police to take stringent action against the accused.

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Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also instructed authorities to invoke attempt to murder charges, given the severity of the assault. Following the incident, police registered a First Information Report under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to attempt to murder and intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace.

Officials confirmed that the accused driver was arrested on Wednesday after an investigation was initiated based on the viral video and victim’s complaint. Authorities also noted that local activists reportedly tracked down the accused before handing him over to police, amid rising public outrage over the attack. The victim continues to receive medical attention, while further investigation is underway to establish the full sequence of events leading to the assault.

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