Kolkata auto driver summoned to judge's chamber after accident

Kolkata's autorickshaws are infamous for their disorderliness and devil-may-care attitude on the road. But an autorickshaw driver Wednesday learnt some lessons after he found himself in the chamber of a Calcutta High Court judge after his vehicle hit her car.

The auto driver was also arrested, but later got bail.

The incident took place in South Kolkata's Ballygunge area Wednesday morning near a bustling road bridge Bijan Setu.

The auto rickshaw, plying on a local route, hit Justice Samapti Chatterjee's car from behind. However, the driver soon melted into the crowd.

But Justice Chatterjee managed to take down its number and lodged a complaint with the city police control room at Lalbazar once she reached the court. She also asked the police to bring the driver before her.

The Gariahat police station officers soon spread out and nabbed the errant driver Samar Das and brought him before the judge, who warned him for negligent driving.

Justice Chatterjee ordered police to initiate legal action against Das, who was arrested for careless driving, police said. However, since it was a bailable offence, he was released after a few hours.

For long, auto rickshaw drivers have grabbed the spotlight in the eastern metropolis for all the wrong reasons. There have been reports of drivers throwing out passengers from their vehicles, beating up elderly and pregnant women with iron rods, and running over pedestrians.