FIRs for wrong-side driving only in 'serious' cases: Delhi Traffic Police
New Delhi (PTI): The registration of FIRs against motorists for wrong-side driving will be a 'selective' measure rather than a blanket policy, with criminal action reserved as a last resort, a senior official with the Delhi Traffic Police said on Wednesday.
Police have registered at least eight FIRs for wrong-side driving. The officer said the traffic police's primary approach would continue to focus on organising awareness drives and issuing challans and notices for violations.
He said that FIRs would be filed only in instances where the violation poses a life-threatening risk or involves repeat offenders.
"The FIR will largely depend on the nature of the offence. If it is life-threatening or has the potential to cause a serious accident, criminal action may be initiated," the officer said.
He added that repeat violations would be a key factor in the decision.
Police will also assess whether the violation occurred due to a genuine mistake, such as a lack of signage or unclear road directions, before deciding on an FIR, the officer said.
Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Neeraj Thakur told PTI the move aims to deter reckless behaviour on roads without criminalising minor or routine infractions.
He said that police would exercise discretion in enforcement, particularly where inadequate signage or a lack of clear directions led to a genuine mistake.
The shift towards stricter enforcement began in the last week of December to curb dangerous driving and reduce road accidents. This comes after the recent registration of FIRs for wrong-side driving under section 281 (rash driving) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. This marks a first for the national capital.
Police clarified that these offences are bailable and the accused were released on bail after arrest.
The first FIR was filed on January 3 at Delhi Cantt police station against Aman, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur, for allegedly driving his car at high speed on the wrong side near the Hanuman Mandir red light.
The case was registered under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, police said, adding that the accused was arrested and later released on bail.
Two subsequent FIRs were filed on January 5 at Kapashera and Vasant Kunj South police stations against Ankit Gaur, who was riding a motorcycle, and Sanij Kumar, who was driving a car, respectively.
The next five FIRs were registered on January 6 at Chanakyapuri police station against a car driver, at Vasant Kunj South against another car driver, at Kishangarh against a scooter rider, at Tughlaq Road against a car driver and at Mandir Marg against an auto-rickshaw driver.
Traffic police data shows a rise in enforcement, with challans increasing to 1,44,490 in 2025 from 1,04,720 in 2024, while the number of notices issued dropped to 1,27,395 from 1,78,448 in 2024.
While such violations were previously handled through fines and licence suspensions, officials said the rise in accidents on arterial roads during peak hours necessitated this revised, more stringent approach.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
