Latest update:26 December 2025 at 5:37 PM IST

A man from Bengaluru claimed that he was stopped for a violation in Devanahalli and was asked to pay an excessive fine to the authorities.

The traveler accused the officer of snatching the keys. (Image source: X)

A Bengaluru resident’s story of being harassed by a traffic police officer has stunned people online. In a detailed post on X, Mahindra, a Bengaluru native, alleged that an officer mishandled his road violation and took advantage of him. After the officer stopped him for violations in Devanahalli, Mahindra said he was willing to pay the regular fine for it.

However, what followed left him in utter shock and disbelief. He added: “The policeman snatched my bike keys in the middle of the road, used abusive language, and explicitly said: ‘I’m the only person who can leave you.’ Whatever fine I say, you will pay.”

Bengaluru man alleges harassment by traffic officer

Later in his post, Mahindra accused the traffic officer of threatening him when questioning him about his ticket reprimand procedures. The Bengaluru man recalled that he was initially imposed a hefty fine of Rs 5,000 and was not allowed to go until the amount was paid. Mahindra wrote that the traffic officer “made me wait 3 hours on the side of the road and constantly harassed me” during the operation.

The local traveler also shared footage of his interaction with the traffic officer. In the video, one can see the traveler asking the officer to hand over his keys and let him go without imposing such an annoying fine. But the angry officer ignored his call and allegedly made an obscene gesture with his middle finger towards him.

The man was released but not without a fine of Rs 3,000

In his post, the Bengaluru man also accused the traffic officer of detaining him at a nearby police station and releasing his bike keys only when he paid him Rs 3,000 as fine. He shared a screenshot of his payment online to support the claim.

“I was forced to pay 3,000 pounds at the police station just to be allowed to leave. Where is the professionalism? Where is the ethics? Is questioning authority now a crime – the law or pure arrogance?” question.

The video left the online community in a state of disbelief, as they were upset with the traffic officer for allegedly mishandling the traffic violation and forcing the traveler to pay a larger fine than what is due under normal circumstances.

One noticed a camera on the officer’s chest and wrote: “Is the camera on his body. If yes, then there is evidence in there. If not, he is not following the rules himself. He should be suspended for life.”

“Why does he wear a body camera? Are these things reviewed daily by someone in the police system? In fact, do they even work?” another user commented.

Another person stated, “Indian laws strongly criminalize police blackmail under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)/Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), 1988, treating such acts as serious offenses punishable by imprisonment and fines.”

The incident raised the possibility of mishandling of traffic violations by road authorities, as officers on duty are likely to intimidate and threaten travelers with excessive fines after discovering they have violated the regulations.

Disclaimer: News18 has not been able to verify the veracity of the allegation against the traffic officer in this case.

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