The Rajasthan Transport Department has imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 on the son of Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa for driving a vehicle with unauthorized modifications and other violations. This comes after a video surfaced online last week showing Bairwa’s son driving on Jaipur’s Amber Road with Congress leader Pushpendra Bhardwaj's son and two others as passengers.
The vehicle, owned by Bhardwaj’s son, was accompanied by a Rajasthan government car with a police beacon tailing them. Following the video's circulation, authorities issued a notice to Bhardwaj’s son on October 1 under the Motor Vehicles Act requiring him to provide an explanation within seven days.
According to the traffic challan, Bairwa’s son was fined Rs 5,000 for unauthorised vehicle modifications, Rs 1,000 for not wearing a seatbelt, and Rs 1,000 for using a mobile phone while driving.
In response, Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa defended his son, explaining that his position allowed his child to associate with wealthier individuals and experience luxury cars. "I want to thank the honourable prime minister for making someone like me the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan. And after this, if wealthy individuals allow my son to sit with them in their cars and give him a chance to see luxury cars, then I am thankful," he said, as per PTI.
However, Bairwa later expressed regret, acknowledging the incident could tarnish his party's image. The deputy chief minister also mentioned that he did not own a personal vehicle, apart from a family jeep registered in his wife’s name.
Congress leader Pushpendra Bhardwaj downplayed the incident, stating, " It was made into a big issue, I don't think it was a big thing. Now, children have also understood that even small things can be made into an issue nowadays so they will be careful from now on."