Traffic police chief writes to joint CP: Officers at police stations inconveniencing traffic cops

Sources in the police department attributed the development to a rift between the two 2004-batch IPS officers.

In his letter (accessed by The Indian Express), Padwal cited the example of a February 28 incident. He alleged that February 28, traffic policemen from Nagpada division caught offenders who allegedly violated lawful orders related to heavy vehicles.

Padwal wrote that traffic policemen went to Agripada police station to lodge an offence. However, officers at Agripada police station did not lodge an FIR on the basis of the complaint filed by the traffic policemen and also delayed the registration of the case, he added. “Despite the south traffic police DCP informing the local police, the Agripada police did not register the FIR as per the complaint. It has been observed that other officers and constables from other traffic police divisions are experiencing the same issue,” Padwal’s letter said.

He went on to request Choudhary to issue instructions to senior inspectors of all police stations to properly register offences as per complaints filed by traffic police personnel, not unnecessarily delay the matter and also not make complainants sit at the police stations for hours.

In the computerised printed letter, the word “request” has been added manually later, before being sent to Choudhary’s office. Sources said that in the past, while the matter was brought to the attention of Mumbai Police commissioner verbally, the state home department was also informed. But seeing no significant change, Padwal last week wrote an official letter to Choudhary.
When contacted, senior police officers refused to comment on the matter.