AN Indian bus driver who let a monkey behind the wheel of his vehicle was suspended Saturday after a video of the incident went viral, sparking outrage and humor.

The 36-year-old driver is seen smiling and patting the langur monkey as it sits atop the wheel of the moving bus in footage shot by a passenger.

“Driver M Prakash has been taken off duty for allowing the monkey to sit on the steering wheel and handle it,” said T.S Latha, a spokesperson for the government’s road transport corporation in Karnataka state.

“Passengers’ safety is paramount and the driver cannot risk it by allowing a monkey on the steering.”

The incident took place Oct. 1 but authorities only learnt of it after the video was shared on social media.

There were around 30 passengers on the bus at the time and none of them complained.

Local media reports say the langur boarded with a passenger and was at the wheel for almost 10 minutes.(SD-Agencies)