Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SHP)
Kundapur, Jan 28: The police have filed a case against a woman for stopping them from performing their duty.
In their complaint, the police have alleged that the woman identified as Shanti Picardo, did not allow her vehicle to be checked, obstructed police from doing their duty, refused to accept notice served under the Motor Vehicles Act and also abused the policemen, shot a video alleging they took bribe and made it viral on social media.
However, Shanti Picardo narrates a different version. According to Picardo, she was on her way to a wedding when she was asked to pull over.
Screengrab of the viral video
“The cops expected me to come to an abrupt halt which was not possible given probable speed on a highway. After pulling over, I checked whether I being approached by a traffic cop. Seeing no one turn up, I headed to the police car to inquire on why I was asked to stop,” she said.
“The cop in question accused me of not wearing the seat belt. I was taken aback by the accusation and tried to convince the cop otherwise,” she added.
Shanti said that she refused to accept the charge and submitted necessary documents for verification. She revealed that she had fastened the seat belt only around her waist as she suffered a wound in the neck. The seat belt was rubbing against her wound and hence she wrapped the belt only around her waist.
“I explained to the police that I have a wound but they paid no heed,” she said.
Shanti claimed that the cops threatened to not return her documents if she did not pay them the amount. "They asked me to pay Rs 500 for not wearing a seat belt, and if I refused, they told they would not return my documents."
"When I refused to pay the bribe, they threatened to slap a case on me. This behaviour was unruly and unacceptable and I recorded the conversation between them and me," she added.
She claimed that the video recording forced the cop to return her documents who feared on being defamed. Further, when she returned from the wedding, she was stopped again for the same reason. But this time, Shanti said her car was allowed to pass.
Shanti has questioned the ethics of the cops who accused her on false grounds even after submitting the required documents. She blamed the inefficiency of the police officials, who failed to handle the situation responsibly. Shanti hopes the guilty are penalised so that no one in the future loses faith in the system.