Bangalore, Aug 24 (DHNS) : An inebriated motorist who created a scene last week by calling the media and alleging that cops were harassing him has now apologised to the police, after an inquiry found that his allegations were false.
Mohan Kumar was flagged down by the police inspector of Banashankari traffic police on the night of August 17 as part of the campaign against drunken driving. The alcohol level in his blood was found to be 250 mg per 100 ml, whereas the permissible limit is 30 mg per 100 ml.
On verification, it was also found that he did not possess a valid driving licence. The inspector said that he had then seized the vehicle as he found that the driver was alone and was not in a fit condition to drive home.
However, Kumar soon called up some of the electronic media channels and alleged that he had kept Rs 2 lakh and his house keys in the car and the traffic police were harassing him. They were neither releasing his vehicle nor allowing him to take these items from the car.
B Dayananda, Additional Commissioner (Traffic and Security), said that the police inspector had made the person open his car and collect his belongings from the car, in front of some mediamen. It was found that there was no money stashed in the car.
He said Kumar is from a joint family and the question of his house keys being in the car and that of him being unable to enter his house without them did not arise.
Inquiry initiated
An inquiry was initiated by the deputy commissioner of police concerned into the matter and the allegations by Kumar turned false, he said. He said that Kumar turned up at the police station on August 19 and gave an apology letter, saying that he was under the influence of alcohol on the night of August 17.
In the letter, he has said that one of his friends gave him the idea to create a ruckus using the media and make allegations against the police of theft, so that they immediately release the vehicle. The man also paid a fine of Rs 2,300 in court for the offence and collected his vehicle.
B Dayananda said that the people who were caught driving drunk were prone to such behaviour against traffic cops. He said that such cases were on the rise.
He said, henceforth, any such instance will be viewed seriously and the traffic police will lodge a complaint against those who try strong-arm tactics to hinder the functioning of a government servant.