Gujarat HC Expresses Concern Over Traffic Cops Extorting Money from Couple in Cab

The Gujarat High Court expressed concerns about a troubling situation where those meant to protect become perpetrators.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P Mayee was hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding two traffic police constables and a traffic brigade (TRB) jawan allegedly extorting money from a couple traveling in a cab at night in Ahmedabad city.

The bench also sought a report on whether similar incidents have occurred in other cities across Gujarat and directed authorities to ensure that helpline numbers are prominently displayed in taxis to assist individuals in crisis.

While the government pleader, Manisha Lavkumar Shah, asserted that Gujarat is possibly the safest state, Chief Justice Agarwal emphasized concerns about situations where protectors themselves become perpetrators.

The government pleader informed the high court that an FIR had been filed against the implicated traffic officials and the TRB jawan on the following day, and they were arrested a day later. The two constables were suspended, while the TRB jawan’s service, who are employed on an honorarium basis, was terminated. An inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act was also initiated against them, and the police commissioner issued a circular to prevent harassment of citizens arriving from stations during nighttime hours.

Strict instructions were issued to all in-charge officers of police stations to conduct roll calls of officers and home guard jawans. Furthermore, police officers and home guard jawans conducting nighttime rounds were directed to have their nameplates on their uniforms, with strict action to be taken if they were found missing.

The court directed the police to conclude the departmental inquiry against the suspended constables promptly and scheduled the matter for the next hearing on September 20.

The court took suo motu cognizance of a news report regarding the distressing incident involving two traffic police jawans and a TRB jawan forcibly entering a cab during a late-night inspection. They allegedly threatened to book the couple, who had just returned from abroad and were on their way home from Ahmedabad airport, for violating the police commissioner’s notification.

According to the report, one of the police officers took the male passenger to the police van, while the other two remained in the cab with the woman and her one-year-old son. The incident occurred in an isolated location and left the couple terrified. The constables demanded Rs 2 lakh to release the couple but ultimately settled for Rs 60,000, as the couple did not have enough cash. The accused also forced the male passenger to withdraw the cash from an ATM nearby.