The Hyderabad Traffic Police on Thursday issued a challan to the official vehicle of the Additional Commissioner of Traffic, Anil Kumar, and imposed a fine of Rs 235, for wrong parking in the city.
The incident was brought to light by a city-based journalist, Abhinay Deshpande, who took a picture of the violation and tagged the Hyderabad Traffic Police in his tweet. "Will you issue a "No Parking" e-challan to this vehicle? Place: Near Mahankali Traffic PS. Time: 3 pm on 15 November, 2018," he said.
Responding to the tweet, and stating that all were equal before the law, the traffic police's Twitter handle, posted a screenshot of the challan, where it had fined the vehicle with the number plate TS 09 PA 3330.
@HYDTP will you issue a "No Parking" e-challan to this vehicle?
— Abhinay Deshpande (@AbhinayTheHindu) November 15, 2018
Place: Near Mahankali Traffic PS.
Time: 3 p.m. on 15 November, 2018.
Pic: @AbhinayTheHindu@AddlCPTrHyd #Hyderabad #Police #Telangana pic.twitter.com/9NFKaOsCtV
@HYDTP will you issue a "No Parking" e-challan to this vehicle?
— Abhinay Deshpande (@AbhinayTheHindu) November 15, 2018
Place: Near Mahankali Traffic PS.
Time: 3 p.m. on 15 November, 2018.
Pic: @AbhinayTheHindu@AddlCPTrHyd #Hyderabad #Police #Telangana pic.twitter.com/9NFKaOsCtV
While the vehicle was registered under the office of Telangana's Director General of Police but it was the Additional ACP who was using it to discharge his official duties.The latter had visited the Mahakali Traffic police station for an inspection.
While many had applauded the traffic police's move, some questioned if official money or personal money of the officer would be used to pay the challan.
"Good to see even protocol vehicle of a senior IPS officer being challaned for traffic violation. Now, the question is who is going to pay for it? Vehicle was registered on government, so is it public money which has to be paid? I strongly demand action against the IPS officer too," one user tweeted in response.
The challan has since been paid and taken down from the website of the Hyderabad Traffic Police.
In September this year, the traffic police received much praise online after it took to social media and posted photos of challans issued to its own men in uniform, for breaking the rules.
Orders were also issued within the department from the Commissioner of Police that every police officer must wear a helmet when they travel on a bike. Memos were also issued to the violators, warning of disciplinary action.