A driver-cum-conductor employed with the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) has been suspended after a video surfaced showing him offering namaz inside a government bus while on duty. The incident reportedly occurred on 30 April 2025 during a scheduled service from Hangal in Haveri district to Vishalgad, Maharashtra.
The driver, who belongs to the Hangal depot, was seen in the video offering prayers from a passenger seat inside a packed bus. The footage, allegedly recorded by passengers, quickly went viral on social media, prompting official action. Some passengers were also seen verbally complaining about the incident to authorities.
Following the circulation of the video, NWKRTC’s Haveri Divisional Controller, Vijaykumar G, issued a suspension order against the driver. NWKRTC Managing Director Priyanga M said she became aware of the incident on Wednesday night and immediately directed the suspension of the staffer pending an enquiry. Authorities are currently verifying whether the driver stopped the bus specifically to perform the prayers and whether it caused inconvenience to passengers.
No god’s that desperate for attention that they’d want you to delay a whole busload of people!
KSRTC suspends driver A.K Mulla for stopping a bus near Hubballi to offer namaz with passengers onboard, citing “dereliction of duty”#Karnataka transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy… pic.twitter.com/r1Kbt5IlHk
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) May 1, 2025
NWKRTC, which is an arm of the state-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), operates bus services in nine divisions across northern and western Karnataka. The managing director emphasized that while the right to practise religion is respected, operational duties must not be disrupted by personal religious activities.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed the suspension and reiterated that religious practices while on duty would not be tolerated. He stressed that Karnataka’s public transport system has earned a reputation for being efficient and passenger-friendly, and incidents like these could undermine that image. He directed the NWKRTC headquarters in Hubballi to ensure that such conduct is not repeated.
The divisional controller described the incident as a clear breach of conduct and confirmed that disciplinary proceedings are underway. Passenger complaints regarding the driver’s actions have been officially recorded as part of the investigation.
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