Representative image showing the word 'suspended'.
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: A sub-inspector and a head constable from the Vijayanagar traffic police station have been suspended pending an inquiry following the alleged assault of a man who had arrived at the station to retrieve a confiscated two-wheeler.
The suspension was ordered by Joint Commissioner of the Police (Traffic) MN Anucheth, who stated that PSI Shantaramayya and HC Sadiq were suspended on Monday on charges of dereliction of duty while handling a drunk-driving case.
The case escalated after a bike rider, Kiran, 28, was caught riding under the influence of alcohol near GT Mall on Magadi Road last Friday.
The pillion rider, Eshwar, accused the traffic police of demanding a Rs 3,000 bribe instead of imposing the official court fine of Rs 10,000 for drunk-driving cases. He also alleged that they assaulted him when he went to the station to retrieve the vehicle.
A viral video on social media shows a confrontation between a traffic police officer and unidentified people. The officer can be heard repeatedly saying, "I did not hit him."
A senior officer told DH that the suspension was based on circumstantial evidence.
"There is no body-worn camera footage of the alleged assault inside the station because the personnel claim they had removed their cameras to place them in the docking station. However, the incident on the road was recorded on a body-worn camera during the drunk-driving enforcement. The footage shows the rider, Kiran, and his pillion rider, Eshwar, arguing with the police officers for nearly 45 minutes and refusing to cooperate," said the officer.
The two reportedly agreed to blow into the breathalyser only after two Hoysala vans arrived at the scene, the officer added.