Gujarat: Man On Bicycle 'Challaned' For Dangerous Driving, Told To Appear In Court And Pay Fine

In a bizarre incident, a man riding his bicycle in Gujarat's Surat found himself challaned for riding on the wrong side of national highway-53 on Thursday.

Rajbahadur Yadav, a migrant daily wage labourer, was caught by the traffic cop near Gabheni crossroads close to Sachin GIDC on the highway, Times of India reported. Ironically, the cop who issued the challan wrongly cited the Motor Vehicle Act instead of the Gujarat Police Act.

BCCL

The challan showed offence under section 184 of MV Act - which labels it driving dangerously. The TOI report said that the senior officials later confessed that the section mentioned is wrong.

¡°I was going to work on my bicycle and was on the wrong side near Gabheni crossroad when the traffic cops stopped me. They issued the challan and asked me to appear in court and pay the fine,¡± Yadav, a native of Uttar Pradesh, told TOI.

Also read: Bullet Owner Fined Rs 57,000 For 101 Traffic Challans Collected In Just A Year

Representational Image/PTI

Yadav, who earns Rs 400 per day, is worried about paying the fine as he says he didn't go to work in the first half of the day.

He said he didn't know how serious his offence was and he had absolutely no idea that even a bicycle rider can be penalised for driving on the wrong side of the road.

As the photo of Yadav with challan went viral, there was anger against police. But police have maintained that they have been penalising bicycle riders on this road to prevent fatal accidents.

Also read: Only In India? In Uttar Pradesh, Man Challaned For Not Wearing Helmet While Driving Car

Representational Image/Facebook

Traffic officials also claimed that riding a bicycle on the wrong side is punishable.

"A bicycle rider cannot ride on the wrong side and one can be penalised under the GP Act. The action by the cop on duty was correct, but the section mentioned is wrong," the report quoted HD Mevada, assistant commissioner of police, traffic, as saying.

"A large number of people often ride on the wrong side so we have to start penalising them. It is a dangerous stretch and driving on the wrong side leads to fatal accidents," he said.

Also read: Delhi Man Sets Bike On Fire After Being Challaned By Traffic Police For Not Wearing Helmet