A viral video showing Shalabh Mani Tripathi riding a motorcycle without a helmet in Uttar Pradesh has sparked widespread discussion online after the legislator himself requested police action and paid the traffic fine.
The incident reportedly took place on May 17 near the MLA’s residence in the Mehdapurwa area of Deoria.
Video sparked online reactions
The viral clip showed the BJP MLA riding a Bullet motorcycle without wearing a helmet while accompanied by other motorcycles and a trailing SUV.
The video quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing criticism and discussions around road safety and traffic rule violations.
MLA admits mistake and seeks challan
Following the online reactions, Tripathi publicly acknowledged the violation and clarified that he had ridden the motorcycle at the request of a party worker who wanted him to “inaugurate” a newly purchased bike.
In a social media post, the MLA admitted that riding without a helmet was a mistake and stated that he had personally contacted the police requesting a challan against himself.
According to reports, Deoria police later issued a Rs 1,000 challan under the Motor Vehicles Act, which the MLA paid.
MLA urges people to follow road safety rules
Tripathi later appealed to the public to always wear helmets and strictly follow traffic regulations.
He reportedly said that helmets are necessary not only to avoid fines but also for personal safety, urging citizens not to repeat the mistake he made.
The incident has continued to attract attention online, with many users reacting to the unusual move of a public representative voluntarily seeking punishment for a traffic violation