Rash driving case fabricated against me by Pune Police & RTO *UPDATE: declared Not Guilty!* Dear TeamBhp Members,
This is not a complaint story, but indeed a warning to all of you to take further precautions, so that what happened to me, should not happen to you.
I Request you to read thoroughly and proceed with my recommended guidelines.
I am a Car Enthusiast. I build Race cars, Was into Stunting, Racing (in safe environments with necessary permissions) long ago. After I started working I have not been Racing and nearly stopped riding super bikes. Cars being safer, I own an Audi TT (Indian Billed, all papers clear. Car is on my name with Insurance and PUC up to date)
Day before yesterday, (21 Aug 2015) evening. My wife and me were returning home from work. Stressed tired, and extremely hungry. I waited at the Traffic Signal Behind the Stop line since it was red. I saw a traffic police lady constable walking towards my car. With a lot of attitude, she knocked on my wind shield and asked for my license. As soon as I removed it from my wallet (unfortunately filled with money at the point of time; since I had to fill fuel, I was carrying cash.) She Snatched the License.
Recommended Point no 1: Only an Inspector has the right to Touch your license. Constables have only the authority to view them. So if a constable takes your license, pls do not take it lightly.
Recommended Point no 2: Never carry cash and your license together. Ad if you do, do not open your purse / wallet in front of the Police (I know its a 'duh' thing, but at that time, i did not realize it myself.
Back to the story: She snatched my license, and said, I broke the previous signal, and i have to pay fine. Rs. 1000.
Knowing that breaking the signal fine is Rs. 100, I said ' Ek toh fine 1000 nahi hai, aur upar se maine toda hi nahi'
Recommended Point no 3: No matter how right you are, these cops dont like being insulted. Please accept arrogant Indian behaviour and be polite.
She Asked me to pull over in the BRT Lane as I would have obstructed traffic once the signal turns Green.
Recommended point no 4: Never Ever Pull into the BRT Lane even if the cop asks you to. You will know why further.
Before I finished parking my car into the BRT Lane, she had dialed to the constable from the previous Signal, where I crossed the line while it was GREEN with other vehicles.
The Lady constable from the previous junction came without a helmet, from the wrong side, and parked her scooter in front of my car so that I would not be able to move it.
She started telling the first constable lady: This rash driving person broke the Signal and crossed it while it was red!
I got fed up. Generally all my cars have Dash Cams, but in this car i was very very very lazy to install one. I so wish I had it.
Recommended Point no 5: Please buy a Dash cam (Dual, front and rear) and install it in your car NOW.
Having denied broken the previous signal, the Constable lady called the P.I.
The P.I. came in the Police Van along with other Traffic Police. On his arrival, the first constable lady said: This person Broke the signal, Drove at 200+ kmph, went in the BRT Lane, and started messing around, ad these two ladies came and stopped me by blocking the car with their scooter!.
Recommended Point no 6: No matter how right you are, and you happen to be in this situation, say, I'm sorry, pay off the amount they are asking nicely, and go away.
When I started arguing over this, the P.I. arrogantly asked me, " Tumhi Gadi ghenar station la, ki tow truck bolvu" (Will you drive to the police station or should I call the Tow Truck).
My car has just two small child seats on the rear, where my wife had to sit in an un confortable manner to allow space for the police officer's associate. In the car, on the way to the station, the person told me, "saab, hume pata hai aap ne kuch nahi kiya, lekin agar hum aavaz uthayenge, toa hume suspend kar denge", (Sir, I know you are innocent, but if I raise my voice, I will get suspended). On reaching the station, the P.I. had started making the letter.
He filed a case under section 279 for Rash Driving and with no regards what so ever, very very arrogantly, I was sent to the nearby police station for further procedure without the decency of even offering drinking water.
Further when we reached the Police station, we had to wait for 1 hour for the respective Inspector to arrive.
When the Inspector arrived, I tried explaining my story to him, very very politely.
Recommended Point no 7: Please do not tell the truth in this situation. Unfortunately, it is extremely painful to tell all of you'll, that saying the truth will be dangerous, no matter how right it is.
Immediately The instector threatened me in the following words:
All junctions have CCTV Camera.
(I tried to reply, Please check.... I was interrupted).
Further he said, You will now be arrested, Prosecuted, your vehicle will be ceased, your wife will be sent home by our person, and you will have to wait in jail till monday morning when the court opens.
I got Extremely scared at this point of time. All the necessary documents were being made in this time. (Facial Description, Overall Body description Personal Detail collection). They prepared my Detailed report which said I was driving extremely rash and negligent .... blah blah.. When I asked him what if I don't want to sign, he said I have two options.
Option 1: Pay Rs. 5,000, and he will release me on bail and I could go home.
Option 2: I would have to spend two nights in Jail after which they would take me to the court, where I had to call my lawyer.
My friend had reached there by then, (whom I called on the way). I paid Rs. 5,000 , and did not receive any sort of acknowledgement for the same.
I was made to sign those forms. The Entire case was fabricated. And no one is willing to help me.
I think now, it's my fault. I was lazy, I did not put the Dash cam in my car. I did not agree to pay the initial bribe.
Now I have to go to the court tomorrow and admit I broke the law.
It's uber cab for me for local travel. As for my passion, I will be buying a truck with my friend, put our two cars in the truck, take them to the track one a month, and be satisfied driving a nice car..
Take care guys.
PS: I would not like to disclose any names here for my own safety. After all this, my desire to fight against the wrong, has died.
Last edited by GTO : 24th August 2015 at 09:59.
Reason: No 'PM me' posts please
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