'Cops need more teeth to curb drink driving'

In the light of the recent surge in drink-driving accidents reported in the city, lawyers opine that the traffic police should have an independent prosecution wing.

In the light of the recent surge in drink-driving accidents reported in the city, lawyers opine that the traffic police should have an independent prosecution wing.

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Also, the nexus of corruption between various parties needs to be broken if perpetrators have to be brought to justice, said lawyer YP Singh.

Commenting on the Salman Khan drink-driving incident, Singh said Khan had hardly appeared in court for his trial, after he was given bail.

"I do not know why the police's pairvi officer (police prosecutor) has not moved the court to cancel Khan's bail despite him being absent from trial on more than 100 days. In the same case, a witness, Ravindra Patil, was jailed because he did not respond to the court's summons and did not depose in time," said Singh.

"In so many cases, when drink-driving accused have to appear before the court for their trial, there are 'professionals' who own up to the crime and serve the punishment instead of the actual culprit," Singh said.

"These accused are one with the police who manipulate the documents for them. And since the court does not have powers to investigate, it announces its judgment on the basis of the case put forth by the police," he added.