After several commuters complained of harassment by Bengaluru Traffic police who stop vehicles on the pretext of document verification, the Karnataka Director General of Police has directed traffic cops not to stop vehicles unless there is a traffic offense.
2 suspended for taking bribe
According to reports, an assistant sub-inspector and a head constable with the Halasur Gate traffic police station were suspended for taking a bribe from an out-of-state car driver.
Santosh Kumar from Kerala, who was asked for a bribe, had sent an email to senior officials writing about the bribery. The officers began an inquiry into the allegation and found that the duo did not wear body-worn cameras, and had indeed collected the bribe from Kumar.
After this incident, the Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) Praveen Sood tweeted that no policeman could stop a vehicle to check documents unless there is a visible violation of rules and regulations.
Srivatsava Vajapeyam, a resident of Bengaluru, also tweeted to Praveen Sood that when Sood had been posted as Additional Commissioner of Police, traffic, the stopping of vehicles for checking documents was banned, stating that they could be stopped only in the case of an offense. “Now with Praveen Sood as DGP, stopping vehicles is a daily phenomenon,” Srivatsava had written on the social media platform Twitter.
Tweet from Top Cop
Praveen Sood replied to Srivatsava’s statement by tweeting “Yes I stand by it and reiterate again. No vehicle shall be stopped only for checking documents unless it has committed a traffic violation visible to the naked eye. The only exception is drunken driving. Have instructed the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, and Joint Commissioner of Traffic for implementation immediately.”
Yes I stand by it & reiterate again… no vehicle SHALL BE STOPPED only for checking documents unless it has committed a traffic violation visible to the naked eye. Only exception is drunken driving. Have instructed @CPBlr & @jointcptraffic for its implementation immediately. https://t.co/Ecg8y4FlGP
— Praveen Sood (@Copsview) June 27, 2022
The top officer also replied with his official account, “I reiterate again… no vehicle SHALL BE STOPPED merely for checking documents unless it has committed a traffic violation visible to the naked eye. Only exception is drunken driving.” The official handle of Karnataka DGP also retweeted the post later.”
I reiterate again… no vehicle SHALL BE STOPPED merely for checking documents unless it has committed a traffic violation visible to the naked eye. Only exception is drunken driving. Have instructed @CPBlr & @jointcptraffic for its implementation immediately.
— DGP KARNATAKA (@DgpKarnataka) June 27, 2022
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Pratap Reddy responded to the tweet stating, “@blrcitytraffic has been instructed to strictly abide by the policy. If you have anything to report on this, please post location, date and time where the instruction on DOCUMENT CHECKING is violated, we will act strictly and swiftly.”
@blrcitytraffic has been instructed to strictly abide by the policy.
If you have anything to report on this, please post location, date and time where the instruction on DOCUMENT CHECKING is violated, we will act strictly and swiftly. @jointcptraffic— Pratap Reddy, IPS ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತರು, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ (@CPBlr) June 27, 2022
In another tweet, Reddy said: “By the way have #BodyWornCameras issued to every traffic personnel. We do have a digital trove of activity of every individual on duty. When you post location, date and time, we can retrieve and establish, deviations. Technology @blrcitytraffic for transparency & better service.”
By the way have #BodyWornCameras issued to every traffic personnel
We do have a digital trove of activity of every individual on duty. When you post location, date and time, we can retrieve and establish, deviations.
Technology @blrcitytraffic for transparency & better service.— Pratap Reddy, IPS ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತರು, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ (@CPBlr) June 27, 2022
