New Delhi:
What's better than driving a swank car on Delhi's roads? Driving a swank car on Delhi's roads with a beacon on top. At least till you get caught.
An IAS official was challaned by traffic police for driving a private car with a blue beacon on July 3. The police have impounded the beacon after collecting the fine. Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) Satyendra Garg confirmed the incident to MiD DAY. He said that the vehicle the IAS was driving belongs to his friend. He, however, refused to divulge either's name.
"I don't want to reveal his name. He will be defamed if I disclose his name. Police have done their duty by impounding the blue beacon and challaning the IAS," said Garg. He said that the traffic cops only want to give out a message that no one is above the law. "Whether the offender is an IAS or an ordinary man, if he violates traffic rules, he shall be fined," said the Joint CP.
An assistant professor of Delhi University, Arun Kumar, had complained to Garg in this respect. On July 3 at around 5.45 pm, Arun Kumar, was driving his car near Bhikaji Kama Place flyover when he noticed a red Hyundai Verna with number plate DL2CAD6904 that had a blue beacon on top and was being driven very rashly. He apparently followed the car till Chattarpur Temple.
"On the way at least 15 traffic police personnel noticed this vehicle, but no one pulled up the driver," Kumar said in his complaint. He clicked a photograph of the car and sent it to Garg, following which action was taken. During investigations police came to know that the car belongs to a person named Sandeep Sharma who lives in Karampura area of west Delhi. Police contacted him to find out the reason for putting a blue beacon on top of the car. Sharma was questioned by cops. He told traffic police that on Sunday, July 3, one of his friends, who is an IAS official had taken his car. "The vehicle has been prosecuted for unauthorised beacon and RC violation with court challan," added Satyendra Garg.