A 46-year-old former Army officer has alleged that a traffic police team of approximately 10 personnel harassed him for nearly 90 minutes during a drunk-driving check near Cyber Hub on Saturday night. He has approached the city police commissioner and deputy commissioner (traffic) seeking a departmental inquiry against the personnel for procedural lapses and misconduct.
Details of the Incident
In a detailed representation, the officer stated that he was stopped at 11:55 PM while returning home with his wife and two daughters after dinner at Cyber Hub. He agreed to take a breathalyzer test but objected to the mouthpiece on the device, which appeared crushed and used. He requested a fresh disposable straw, but the request was denied. In the interim, the device registered a reading of 91 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.
The officer immediately sought a retest, asserting that he had not consumed alcohol. He alleged that instead of facilitating a retest, officials proceeded with challan formalities and directed him to an interceptor vehicle where a traffic inspector was present. He also claimed that his phone was taken while he attempted to display his driving license via DigiLocker, and accused the traffic inspector of making derogatory remarks upon learning of his military background. His family was left standing on the roadside throughout the ordeal.
Retest Results and Further Allegations
A retest was eventually conducted, returning readings of 13 mg/100 ml — well below the legal limit of 30 mg per 100 ml of blood. Despite the lower readings, the officer was not allowed to photograph the display or obtain any written confirmation of the results. He told TOI that his wife subsequently dialed the 112 emergency helpline, following which local police arrived at the spot. The officer alleged that no independent verification or medical examination was arranged, and that the interceptor and police team began dispersing once 112 was contacted.
Demands and Official Response
The officer has sought revocation of the challan, preservation of CCTV footage, body-camera and dashboard-camera recordings, breathalyzer logs and calibration records, a written explanation for the conflicting readings, and action against officials if procedural violations are established. ACP (Traffic/Headquarters) Satyapal Yadav confirmed, “We have received the complaint and an inquiry has been initiated.”
