Odisha woman issued challan ‘for driving car without helmet’

Cuttack: Woman fined for driving a car without helmet! Yes, you heard it right. A woman identified as Shradha Das of Cuttack was reportedly penalized for driving her car without helmet.

The matter came to fore after Das, a student of National Law University (NLU) Cuttack, brought the matter to the notice of Cuttack RTO and the state Road Transport and Commerce Department through a Tweet.

As per the allegation, on June 25, Das received a computer-generated e-Challan as against a fine of Rs 100 on charges of driving without helmet. Shockingly, the vehicle bearing number-OD05AN4555 was found to be her car. Moreover, the woman alleged that neither she nor anyone from her family was driving the car on the date mentioned in e-Challan.

@rto_cuttack @CTOdisha @STAOdisha kindly explain why have I been accused of driving my CAR without helmet ?! @samajalive @odishasuntimes @timesofindia @sambad_odisha pic.twitter.com/e0NBrMZvEN

— Shradha Das (@ShradhaDas15) July 2, 2019

“This is a false case. Moreover, I got to know that such computer-generated e-Challans have been sent to a lot of people with no fault of theirs. This is a pure case of mismanagement which will lead to defrauding of people,” Das said.

However, RTO Cuttack later accepted the blunder saying that the officer concerned selected the wrong narration by mistake, though selected the correct section of offence in the dropdown box. An explanation has also been sought from the officer concerned, the RTO added.

“The correct narration but in this case while selecting the narration the officer has selected wrong narration and selected the correct section of offence i.e 177. This is not deliberate however the officers have been instructed to be more careful while selecting the narration,” the RTO replied in a Tweet.