A 1.5‑minute clip that has since trended on social media shows a man in a blue state‑transport uniform—identified as the driver—kicking a visibly intoxicated passenger in the chest outside a government bus at Kangeyam bus stand, sending him tumbling onto the road.
The driver, who shouted “Poda” in Tamil, was followed minutes later by a khaki‑clad conductor who struck the fallen passenger in the face. The bus, bearing registration TN 38 N 2986, was operating in Tiruppur district's Kangeyam area during a downpour.
Tiruppur police confirmed the assault, noting that the passenger was drunk and that no medical aid was rendered. They added that no criminal case has yet been filed, but an investigation is underway.
A senior officer from the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation in Coimbatore told NDTV that an inquiry has been ordered and that the crew should have handed the man over to police rather than assaulting him. The corporation said appropriate action will follow the inquiry report.
The incident underscores a growing concern over passenger safety on state buses, prompting calls from civil‑society groups for stricter enforcement of conduct codes. The next step will be the release of the inquiry findings and potential disciplinary or legal measures against the driver and conductor.