Expressing concern over reckless motorcycle stunts, the Karnataka High Court has suggested amendments to laws, including the Motor Vehicles Act, to tackle the issue. The concerns were expressed in an order by Justice V Srishananda of the Dharwad bench while denying bail to a man accused of performing ‘wheelies’, which involves riding a bike with its front wheel raised off the ground. Taking note of fatal accidents which had occurred while performing motorcycle stunts, the court stated, “Legislature has to take into consideration that existing statutory provisions relating to reckless and negligent driving is hardly sufficient to curb the menace and therefore, to fill up the legislative vacuum, suitable and stringent provisions are to be incorporated by amending the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act to complement each other." In the order issued on April 7, which was made available recently, the bench observed, "Perhaps, at the time of enacting the Motor Vehicles Act, legislators did not foresee or specifically contemplate that a two-wheeler would be driven on the hind wheel alone. Accordingly, no express penal provision was envisaged to avert said mischief.” The case was registered in connection with a complaint filed in October 2024 after the Gangavathi Rural police in Koppal district received an alert that three people were performing wheelies on a motorcycle in the area. When intercepted by the police, they lost balance and fell, following which they allegedly manhandled and abused the personnel before being taken into custody. Later, an accused, Arbaz Khan, approached the court for bail. The petitioner's counsel argued that he was innocent and a false case had been filed on account of a rivalry between him and the police. The counsel also stated that custody was no longer warranted as the chargesheet had been filed. The opposing counsel stated that he would not be eligible for bail as he was a habitual offender. The bench noted that, prima facie, apart from the number of cases that the accused was involved in, photographs indicated that he was involved in performing wheelies, and described it as a “trending menace in the public road which not only endangers the rider and pillion rider of the motorcycle, but also general public at large.” The court refused to grant bail to the accused, observing that while the matter would not ordinarily be grave enough to deny bail, in this instance, the abuse and manhandling of police personnel had to be taken into account.
