‘Banger’ goes defunct: Kerala student drives flame-spitting car to party in Bengaluru, fined Rs 1 lakh
A Bengaluru youth's attempt to gain social media fame by driving a flame-spitting, illegally modified Honda City ended in a costly lesson after authorities imposed a fine of over ₹1 lakh. The second-hand car, dubbed "Banger," was declared defunct following an RTO inspection, with officials warning against dangerous stunts for online views.
New Delhi: A fun ride quickly turned into a huge financial catastrophe when a college student in Bengaluru bought a second-hand Honda City and modified it illegally to gain fame. The Kerala engineering student was fined Rs 1.1 lakh for operating the fire-spitting car on city roads.
The police received multiple complaints about the vehicle. Upon spotting it, they found that it had undergone major modifications. "These violations attract heavy penalties, and only the RTO is authorised to approve such changes," officials said.
A momentary pleasure
Reports say the Kannur youth had purchased a 2002 Honda City for ₹70,000. To make it eye-catching, he added a flashy colour, installed a tampered silencer, and changed some essential components. He also added graffiti reading "Banger.” The ageing sedan quickly drew the attention of bystanders, bringing the ride to a costly end.
The student reportedly drove the vehicle to parties and posted multiple videos and reels on social media, showing risky stunts to gain views. The visuals captured the car producing extreme noise, flames shooting from the exhaust, and raising eyebrows among viewers.
For social media views, he paid a fine
Following this, multiple complaints were lodged against the vehicle. The RTO inspected the Honda City and imposed fines that exceeded the car’s purchase price. Officials warned the owner not to repeat such stunts in the future.
One officer remarked, "For the sake of social media reels, he ended up spending more on fines than on buying the vehicle."
Separate incident
Last year, a terrible accident occurred at Kodigenahalli on the Kempegowda International Airport flyover, where nearly ten vehicles—including a truck, lorry, car, and taxi—rammed into one another, causing massive chaos on the stretch. The impact of the collision resulted in severe traffic congestion, with vehicles stuck for several kilometres. Reports say, the chain reaction began when one vehicle suddenly braked, triggering multiple collisions within seconds.