In a disturbing incident aboard the Vande Bharat Express, a passenger was allegedly assaulted at the behest of BJP MLA Rajiv Singh Parichha from Babina constituency in Madhya Pradesh. The altercation occurred on June 19 during the train’s journey from Delhi to Bhopal. The victim, identified as Raj Prakash, was seated in coach E-2 when he was asked by the MLA to exchange his seat. Prakash reportedly declined, citing medical reasons that required extra leg space available in his assigned seat.

Following the refusal, the situation took a violent turn at Jhansi railway station. Witnesses claimed that around 15–20 men entered the coach and brutally attacked Prakash, leaving him bleeding from his nose, ears, and mouth. Shockingly, passengers alleged that railway police officials were complicit in assisting the assailants rather than protecting the victim. The MLA, who boarded the train with his wife Kamli and son Shreyansh, had seats 50 and 51 allocated for his family, while his own seat was number 8—far from Raj Prakash’s seat 49.

After enduring the assault, Prakash deboarded at Rani Kamalapati station in Madhya Pradesh and expressed his intent to file a police complaint. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with Congress spokesperson Mukesh Nayak condemning the attack as another example of rising lawlessness. Videos and photos of the bleeding passenger have since gone viral, reigniting concerns about political misuse of power and passenger safety aboard public transport in India.