Pune: Asked To Pay Pending Traffic Fine, Techie Drags Policeman On Car For 800 Meters
Mubarak Ansari
Kharadi, 16th October 2021: A 43-year-old IT engineer has been arrested for dragging a traffic policeman on his car after the cop asked him to pay a Rs 400 pending fine. He was caught after a chase by police and citizens.
The incident took place between 4.15 pm to 4.40 pm on Friday from Mundhwa chowk to Zensar Company via Kharadi Bypass.
Based on a complaint from head constable Sheshrao Jaybhaye (43) who is posted with the traffic branch, Mundhwa Police Station has arrested Prashant Shridhar Kantawar (43), a resident of Mohammadwadi. He works with a company at EON IT Park.
As per the FIR, the Mundhwa Traffic Division officials were conducting a drive to recover pending fines at Mundhwa Signal Chowk on Kharadi bypass road. Kantawar was driving i20 car from Magarpatta City side towards Kharadi. He allegedly jumped traffic signal at Mundhwa chowk and was stopped by constable Jagtap. He was told to pay a fine of Rs 400 which was pending as per the online record of his vehicle number.
“Kantawar started blowing the horn of his car. He was shouting ‘Ek bhi policewala kam ka nahin hai, paisa kamane ke liye khade ho kya?’ (Not a single policeman is of any use. Are you standing to earn money?). He refused to pay the fine”, the FIR states.
Policeman Jaybhaye said, “When I asked him to pay the fine using debit or credit card, he got enraged and tried to run the car over me. To save myself I clung to the car and caught hold of the wiper blades. He started driving the car at high speed. Meanwhile, my colleague and some citizens started chasing the car. After crossing the bridge over the Mula-Mutha river, when the car slowed down I jumped from the car. After a chase, he was caught near Zensar company.”
The policeman received injuries on his right hand and leg in the incident. He is being treated at a hospital.
Kantawar has been charged for offences under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 336 (endangering life), 353 (obstructing policeman from discharging official duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other relevant sections of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Police Sub Inspector Gajanan Bhosale is further investigating the case.
Kantawar could not be reached for his version.
Note: This report will be updated after getting a statement from Kantawar.
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