Mid-day

Mumbai, Feb 22: Gaurav Mehta (18) and his friend were on their way to a friend’s house on a motorcycle when the police stopped them last night. Neither of them had a driver’s licence, or proof that the bike belonged to them.

Normally, they would have been detained at the station until they could prove ownership, but yesterday the police let them off… because they were HSC students.

“Around midnight, I realised that we needed a particular book to prepare for our English exam,” said Gaurav. They two decided to drive to a friend’s house to pick up the book. With none of his relatives home at the time, Gaurav set out on a bike that he claims belongs to his uncle.

However, they were soon stopped by a police officer. “I saw they were slightly uncomfortable riding the bike, so I stopped them and asked for a licence,” said the officer.
 
 
The boys confessed they did not have one. They were taken to the station, and asked to prove that the bike belonged to them.

Gaurav said he was unable to do so, but pleaded with the police to let him go as he was an HSC student. “Please sir, I have a board exam in the morning. Let me go,” he said.

The police decided to let the boys off with a Rs 500 fine for driving without a licence, but will keep possession of the bike until they confirm who the owner is.

“There are still doubts over whose bike it is and how Gaurav got the key. But we cannot afford to ruin his career by holding him up today,” said an officer.