Bengaluru Man Accuses Traffic Police Of Bribery: 'Sought Rs 3,000 To Waive Rs 10,000 DUI Fine'

The Vijayanagar traffic police have strongly refuted the allegations and asserted that the entire incident was recorded on an officer’s body camera.

A dispute has emerged in Bengaluru after a bike pillion rider accused the Vijayanagar traffic police of demanding a bribe during a routine drunk driving check. The police have denied the allegations citing body camera footage as evidence and are now considering legal action against the accuser for making false claims.

The incident comes amid another viral social media post, where a citizen alleged that a Bengaluru police officer accepted a bribe while checking drunk driving near Leela Palace in the city. 

Meanwhile, on Friday, the first incident took place near GT Mall on Magadi Road, where traffic police were conducting checks for drunk driving. The officers stopped a bike and found the rider, Kiran (28), under the influence of alcohol, as per a report on The New Indian Express. His friend Eshwar was the pillion rider.

Turn Of Events

When asked to produce his license, Kiran allegedly refused. As a result, the police seized the bike and instructed him to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 in court. The next day, after paying the fine, Kiran presented the receipt at the Vijayanagar traffic police station and retrieved his bike.

Eshwar, however, later alleged that the officers had demanded a Rs 3,000 bribe to avoid paying the full Rs 10,000 fine, as per the report. He claimed that when he attempted to transfer the amount via UPI, the officers insisted on cash to prevent any digital record. When he refused, he alleged that the police called a Hoysala patrol vehicle and took both him and Kiran to the Govindarajanagar police station. He also claimed that the police accused them of obstructing officers on duty, as per the report.

He alleged that a traffic police sub-inspector and a constable physically assaulted him the next day when he went to collect the bike.

The Vijayanagar traffic police have strongly refuted the allegations and asserted that the entire incident was recorded on an officer’s body camera. They insist that the fine was legally imposed and that no bribe was demanded. The police are now considering filing a criminal case against Eshwar for defamation and false accusations.