A head constable at the City Market traffic police station in Bengaluru was suspended on Monday following allegations of illegal money collection. Clips circulating on social media showed the head constable, Vasanth Kumar, allegedly collecting money from vendors at the market.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, West) Anita B Haddannavar stated in the suspension order that the 45-year-old policeman was reportedly collecting fines from auto-rickshaw drivers under false pretenses, as only police officers not below the rank of a sub-inspector are authorized to perform such checks in Bengaluru.
The specific amount of money collected illegally by the head constable remains undisclosed. Pending a departmental inquiry, he has been suspended from duty. The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have also been instructed to cease random physical checks of vehicles unless part of special drives for offenses like drink-driving or wrong-side driving.