To
Mr Praveen Sood
ACP Bangalore Traffic Police

SUB: Complaint about high-handed behaviour by Policeman Mr. Lokesh (rank unknown, apparently of Shivajinagar PS) at Dickenson Road on 29/05/2010.

Sir

I am Dr. Praveen Jacob, working at St. Johns Hospital, Bangalore. Around 12:10 AM on 30th May, 2010 I was returning home on my 2-wheeler when I was stopped at the Dickenson Road -St. Johns Road junction by a “policeman” for a check on driving under the influence of alcohol. (I assume that he was a policeman, because he was wearing the white and khakhi uniform, BUT HE WAS NOT WEARING A NAME/ NUMBER BADGE.)

As instructed by him, I blew into the alcohol-meter, but my technique was apparently incorrect because he grabbed the keys to my 2-wheeler and asked me to walk to the side. I stepped off the bike and blew in to the alcohol-meter again and my blood alcohol level was within the normal limit (26 mg/dl if I remember right). I then questioned him about the basis on which he had removed the keys from my 2-wheeler, without my permission. He lost his temper and began alleging that I was drunk. He then insisted on me repeating the test on a second machine, which I complied with but only after taking photographic evidence of the proceedings. My blood alcohol level was within the normal limit on this second machine as well. Mr. Lokesh reluctantly returned my keys but threatened me that if I questioned him anymore I would “spend the night in the lock-up”! I also spoke to the Inspector (Mr. Hitendra of Shivajinagar PS) and pointed out that his colleague firstly did not have a name/ number ID, and secondly was behaving extremely rudely. All that Mr. Hitendra had to offer in his defence was that the policeman’s name was Mr. Lokesh and that I was free to complain to the higher authorities on the next day!

In this context, I wish to clarify two matters:
1. Is it not a legal requirement for police officers on duty to wear their name badges?
2. Are police officers allowed to grab the keys from 2-wheelers without the permission of the owner of the vehicle?

I have heard stories of Police harassment from my patients and read media reports of attempts to educate the Police Force in basic etiquette. Unfortunately, the stories are true and as a Bangalorean, I am ashamed that such boorish and uncouth police officers are being paid by my tax-money.

This kind of harassment can be allowed to continue unchecked. With photographic evidence to support my claim, I plan to seek legal redressal if this matter is not settled with an unconditional apology from Mr. Lokesh at the earliest.

Yours truly,
Dr. Praveen Jacob
projac@in.com