When smart glasses, social media brought ‘bribe’ takers to justice: a Japanese tourist’s encounter with Gurgaon traffic police

The Japanese tourist handed over two crisp Rs 500 notes, and the officers were captured on video counting the bills with satisfaction, one even flashing a smile.

Before letting them go, the traffic policemen noted the woman’s phone number, and told her to call them if she were stopped again.

“This was the only scam I encountered during my trip in India,” X user @yamato_rwf wrote in a post that evening, attributing the incident to police corruption and labelling the payment as “pocket money” for the policemen.

“So many people here were without helmets,” the tourist said, pointing to the fact that the others were not being stopped.

A twist in the tale

The post might have faded into oblivion after the initial outrage had it just been a text-based one. However, little did the policemen know the Japanese tourist had been wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which recorded the entire incident, capturing his ordeal in detail apart from their faces.

On Monday, the man, a travel content creator, posted a first-person video account on Instagram, where he has several Indian fans.

One of them reposted the video on X in the afternoon, tagging Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the Gurgaon police, and the deputy commissioner. “Gurugram police taking bribe from a Japanese tourist, taking 1000 rupees without giving the receipt, these people are ruining the image of India, why their salary is not enough for them,” he said.

He also alleged the woman was later hounded by the policemen, who wanted her friend to delete the video. The thread on X showed screenshots of missed calls towards this.

Gurgaon police action

As the video gained traction, and the online anger intensified, the consequent pressure yielded results with remarkable speed.

Later in the day, the Gurgaon police and traffic police posted on social media, acknowledging the incident and asking for specifics over DM.

The Gurgaon traffic police posted on their X account that they have a “Zero Tolerance Against Corruption” policy. They announced the immediate suspension of three officers involved — Zone Officer ESI Karan Singh (badge number 704/GGM), Constable Shubham (4061/GGM), and Bhupender (347/RTK).

The police also provided contact details for reporting similar incidents, emphasising confidentiality and promising swift action.

The Japanese tourist later marvelled at the timeline in a follow-up post: the suspensions came just nine hours after the video’s viral surge, crediting the “outraged Indian followers” who had reposted it relentlessly.

He described the episode with a touch of wry humour, calling it a “funny” cap to their otherwise scam-free travels in India.

However, some citizens wished for more stringent action.

“Suspension means half salary for a few months. They can go on holiday and spend time with their family. After a few months the fire comes down and they might also get the remaining half salary. What’s the point of suspension?” Asked one X user.