Cyberabad police in Hyderabad have taken decisive disciplinary action against one of their own officers following a concerning incident where a minor was permitted to operate a vehicle on a public road. Sub-Inspector Pujari Tirupati became the center of controversy after footage of his approximately 6-year-old granddaughter behind the steering wheel went viral on social media. The incident, which triggered significant public outrage and criticism regarding the lack of responsibility displayed by an official tasked with enforcing the law, prompted an immediate official investigation.
The incident and public reaction
The occurrence took place on the Gandhamguda-Bairagiguda road within the jurisdiction of the Narsingi police station. Local residents observed the sub-inspector allowing his young granddaughter to maneuver the car on a busy thoroughfare, a move that severely disrupted local traffic. When confronted by bystanders, who questioned how a police officer could so flagrantly disregard traffic safety laws, the officer failed to justify his actions. In the viral video, the child is heard claiming that her grandfather is a police officer, highlighting the perceived impunity of the situation.
Defending his actions, Sub-Inspector Tirupati claimed that the vehicle featured an automatic transmission and remained under his supervision. However, this defense was widely rejected by the public, who argued that practicing on a public road poses an unacceptable threat to other commuters. Critics emphasized that such training should exclusively occur in controlled, safe environments rather than on public streets where lives could be endangered.
Official legal proceedings
Following the circulation of the video and the resulting public pressure, senior police officials reviewed the matter. On Sunday night, the Cyberabad Traffic Police announced that a formal case had been registered against Sub-Inspector Pujari Tirupati under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside Sections 180 and 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Authorities have confirmed that the investigation into the officer's conduct is currently underway.
Anti-drunk driving campaign update
Concurrent with this development, the Cyberabad Traffic Police provided an update regarding their ongoing anti-drunk and drive campaign conducted over the weekend. During this operation, authorities apprehended 354 individuals for operating vehicles under the influence. The breakdown of the detained drivers includes 299 two-wheelers, 17 three-wheelers, and 38 four-wheelers. Medical testing revealed that 305 of these drivers had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 36 and 200 mg per 100 ml. Furthermore, 31 individuals recorded a BAC between 201 and 300 mg, while 18 others tested at levels between 301 and 550 mg per 100 ml. Every individual detained in the campaign will be produced before the court for legal processing.
