Delhi traffic inspector prosecuted 3 off-duty cops for traffic violation; thrashed

A traffic inspector of Delhi Police Rajendra Prasad filed a formal complaint against two constables and a head constable, who assaulted him when he told his team to prosecute them for wrong parking

NEW DELHI: Three off-duty police constables allegedly assaulted a Delhi Police traffic inspector in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas area when he tried to prosecute them for improper parking last week. Police said the three, two constables and a head constable, have been arrested on a complaint filed by traffic inspector Rajendra Prasad, 51.

Delhi Traffic Police inspector Rajendra Prasad was allegedly assaulted when he told his team to fine the vehicle for improper parking (Sanchit Khanna/HT File Photo (Representative Image))

Constable Ashok Kumar, constable Manoj and head constable Sarnam have been booked under sections 186 (punishment for voluntarily obstructing public servant), 353 (punishment for assaulting public servant) and 332 (punishment for causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty).

According to the First Information Report registered on the inspector’s complaint, he and three other personnel were conducting a ‘special drive’ in Hauz Khas area over improper parking or encroachment on Thursday when the incident took place.

Prasad, who is posted at the traffic unit’s CR Park and Hauz Khas area, said in the FIR that his team had prosecuted 59 vehicles when around 9pm, he noticed a white sports utility vehicle, a Hyundai Creta, with tinted windows parked on the wrong side of the road and obstructing traffic.

“I saw two people sitting in the front and two more in the backseat. I told the person in the driver’s seat to move ahead as they were blocking traffic, but he didn’t listen or understand as I was communicating through hand signals. When they didn’t follow my directions, I called HC Bhagirath to prosecute the car through VOCA (violation on camera app). As he clicked a picture of the car, one occupant got out and told him not to take action as he was from the Delhi Police,” the FIR said.

The occupants of the car refused to move their car and told the traffic team that they were waiting for someone there.

Inspector Prasad told the head constable to go ahead and prosecute the vehicle.

“Constable Ashok Kumar slapped me and his associate, HC Sarnam also got out of the car to assault me. I managed to catch hold of two men,” said the complainant.