The Coimbatore Police have initiated an inquiry following the seizure of a private bus in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district for allegedly featuring inscriptions that appeared to glorify fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. The bus, carrying over 40 engineering students from Coimbatore, was returning from an excursion in Dandeli, Karnataka, when it was stopped by Basavanahalli police. Authorities noted slogans like “gangs of Mumbai” and “real don” on the bus, suspected to be in praise of Dawood Ibrahim.
Karnataka Police took possession of the bus and filed a case against the bus driver and owner under Section 197(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, related to acts deemed detrimental to India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity. The students on board were not detained and were allowed to continue their journey in an alternative vehicle arranged post-seizure.
Investigations are focusing on the origin of the inscriptions, their purpose on the bus, and whether there was an intentional effort to endorse illegal content. Coimbatore Police have also launched a parallel probe to determine the intent behind the slogans, the individuals responsible for them, and whether the transport company was aware of the content displayed on the vehicle.
Authorities emphasized the need for caution among travel operators and private vehicle owners to prevent any unlawful, provocative, or objectionable material from being exhibited on their vehicles. The incident has raised concerns about the oversight in the branding of private buses used for student trips, with further inquiries expected to involve individuals associated with the bus in the days ahead.
