B'luru: Biker fined nearly Rs. 14,000 for 46 traffic violations, made to pay on the spot; Here's why
Bengaluru: In a bid to enforce traffic discipline and clear pending fines, Bengaluru police have nabbed another individual who had been evading payment of traffic fines for his bike.
The bike owner had a staggering total of 46 violations pending against his vehicle.
The police ensured that he paid the dues on the spot, amounting to Rs. 13,850.
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The apprehension occurred within the Thallaghattapura police limits. The police department shared an image of the individual, clearly displaying the long-overdue challan in his hand. The official social media account of Bengaluru police posted an update, stating, "Traffic violation cases-"46". Fine amount 13850/- Vehicle no Ka05JF4664."
This incident comes as part of Bengaluru police's recent efforts to address the issue of unpaid fines. Earlier, a person with 40 pending cases on his two-wheeler was caught and subsequently fined Rs. 12,000. This approach aims to hold traffic violators accountable for their actions and encourage timely payment of fines.
While some social media users called for stricter action, including license cancellations, others suggested that repeated violators should face more severe consequences, such as arrest warrants after a certain number of violations. The leniency towards defaulters has been criticized for potentially fostering reckless behavior on the roads.
To streamline traffic management, authorities have instructed police officers not to stop vehicles adhering to all traffic rules, a move aimed at rewarding compliant drivers. However, this leniency inadvertently allows those with outstanding fines to avoid detection and penalties.
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses EC of ‘bias’, defends state guarantee schemes ahead of bypolls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.
In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.
The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.
The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.
In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".
"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.
The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".
He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."
Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.
Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.
"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.
He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.
"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.
