Transport minister’s vehicle challaned
Telangana transport minister P. Mahender Reddy’s official vehicle (white Fortuner) was challaned `1,200 for wrong side drive. The incident took place at Mehdipatnam junction earlier this month when the government vehicle TS09 PA 1672 was caught driving against the traffic at 10 am, usually considered as peak office hours. However, the transport minister was not in the vehicle and the driver remained untraced by traffic cops.
The official vehicle of the minister was registered in the name of ‘The Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) — TS Police Transport Organisation (PTO). Every minister was allocated an official vehicle.
Telangana transport minister P. Mahender Reddy’s official vehicle (white Fortuner) was challaned `1,200 for wrong side drive. This one, registered in the name of PTO, was meant for intelligence security and accompanying the minister.
When Deccan Chronicle enquired with the City Traffic wing, a senior traffic cop said, “A complaint was received from one Mr Paul Oomen on April 12 on City Traffic social platform. It was difficult to trace the car number, as the vehicle was on the move and the video clip was unclear. It took the department two days to trace the vehicle. When zeroed down it was TS 09 PA 1672, the official car of transport minister. On April 14, the challan was issued and the fine amount is yet to be paid.”
Further, there were already two challans pending, one for wrong parking in the carriageway at Annapurna X Road on January 27 and speeding at Hamidulla Nagar on July 25, 2017, both under Shamshabad Traffic police limits. A total challan amount of `2,905 was still pending against the minister’s official vehicle, he added.
Police confirmed that the minister was not in the car when the violation took place and also movement was not part of a convoy.
Complainant Paul Oomen of Marredpally said, “Initially, the traffic wing rubbished the fact that it was a police vehicle. However, I explained to them that it was an official government vehicle, which was later accepted. The minister was unavailable for comment.