After pic on Twitter, cop fined for riding without helmet at Gurugram

Acting on a complaint posted on Twitter, police on Wednesday issued a challan (fine) of Rs 200 against an officer after a commuter posted a photograph of him riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Acting on a complaint posted on Twitter, police on Wednesday issued a challan (fine) against an officer after a commuter posted a photograph of him riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

On Tuesday at 11.37am, Harmeet Batra (28), an interior designer, was coming from Delhi to attend a meeting in the city when he noticed a police officer riding a motorcycle without a helmet near Sikanderpur. (Picture for representation)

On Tuesday at 11.37am, Harmeet Batra (28), an interior designer, was coming from Delhi to attend a meeting in the city when he noticed a police officer riding a motorcycle without a helmet near Sikanderpur.

Batra, a resident of Greater Noida, said that he uploaded a picture on Tuesday evening of the police officer and a woman, who was riding pillion, and tagged the Gurugram Police. While the policeman is seen in uniform, his face is not visible in the picture posted on the microblogging site.

“I keep travelling to Delhi-NCR for work and have noticed on several occasions that police officers, themselves, violate traffic rules, including driving on the wrong side of the road and riding without a helmet,” Batra said.

“When I jump a traffic signal, a challan arrives at my residence by post. I wanted to check if the same regulations apply to the police as well,” Batra said.

On Wednesday morning, Batra tweeted on the Gurugram police handle, asking if any action had been initiated for the violation. Gurugram police, in its reply, posted a copy of the postal challan on Twitter, issued by the challan branch to DCP, Headquarters office, for the vehicle bearing the registration number HR 26 CQ 1519.

The challan of Rs 200 was issued under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Subhash Boken, spokesperson, Gurugram police, said, “Police officers are not above the law and tickets are issued for any violation.”