Police personnel caught on camera using QR codes of nearby hawkers to take bribes from offenders to evade scrutiny on their personal accounts
1. A tempo driver is pulled over by PSI Dulam who is holding an official challan machine at Borivli West; 2. Shortly, a child shows up carrying a Paytm QR code card; 3. The tempo driver scans the code as PSI Dulam looks on; 4. Payment made, the boy exits. Pics/Nimesh Dave
- The money collected by these means was then funnelled back to the officers in cash
- The area under scrutiny was Lokmanya Tilak (LT) Road at Borivali West station signal
- Daily, 4 to 5 cops are deployed there to apprehend people flouting traffic rules
A three-day investigation by mid-day has uncovered brazen instances of corruption where Borivali West traffic police officers extorted traffic violators using unconventional methods such as utilising the Paytm scanners of roadside hawkers and manipulating digital payment platforms like Google Pay instead of using their challan machines.
The money collected by these means was then funnelled back to the officers in cash or deposited into their accounts.
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Reporter Shirish Vaktania, posing as a traffic violator, interacts with PSI Dulam at Borivali West on Friday; (right) PSI Dulam, who allegedly took bribes using hawkers’ QR codes.
Photojournalist Nimesh Dave and reporter Shirish Vaktania witnessed the modus operandi employed by the corrupt traffic officers in collaboration with numerous hawkers, including those selling bags, cloth and paper, to facilitate the collection of payments from traffic violators. The money collected was then funnelled back to the officers in cash or deposited into their accounts.
The area under scrutiny was Lokmanya Tilak (LT) Road at Borivali West station signal, a one-way route where only BEST buses are permitted. On a daily basis, four to five traffic cops are deployed there to apprehend individuals flouting traffic rules. Acting on information from reliable sources, mid-day decided to visit the spot.
(left to right) 1. A scooter rider is pulled over a Borivali West on November 3; 2. The woman who was riding pillion is sent to a hawker’s stall to make a digital payment; 3. The woman who sent to a hawker’s stall confirms a digital payment has been made. Pics/Nimesh Dave
Investigation overview
Around 12.11 pm on Friday, the reporter deliberately violated the traffic rules by making a left turn upon reaching the signal outside Borivali station. A woman traffic constable then appeared and this exchange occurred:
Constable: Park your bike in the corner. This is the wrong-side driving.
Reporter: It's the right way. I took a left turn from the signal.
Constable: Only BEST buses are allowed here, no other vehicles.
Reporter: I wasn’t aware of that.
Subsequently, the constable instructed the reporter to speak with PSI Dulam. The reporter parked his bike and engaged in a conversation with the officer.
Reporter: Sir, the woman constable stopped me after I made a turn.
PSI Dulam: Yes, this route is off-limits for bikes and other vehicles, even rickshaws. You didn't see anyone?
Reporter: No, sir, I didn't see anyone.
PSI Dulam: Wait, I need to check your challan history.
PSI Dulam then checked the system and found that the reporter had no pending challans.
PSI Dulam: Now, you have to pay a fine of R500, and I will provide a receipt.
Reporter: Sir, I don't have R500 on me.
PSI Dulam: How much can you pay?
Reporter: Sir, I can pay R300.
PSI Dulam: Fine, give me that.
Reporter: Sir, I don't have cash in my wallet.
PSI Dulam: Then go to an ATM, withdraw the cash and pay me.
Reporter: Sir, can I use GPay or Paytm to make the payment? Can you provide me with a scanner?
PSI Dulam: No, I can't
accept GPay or Paytm, as I had issues receiving money in
my account earlier. But if you don't have cash, you can
transfer it to my GPay account. My mobile number is 9********9.
Reporter: Yes, sir, it's done.
QR code scanner racket
mid-day also witnessed PSI Dulam and woman constables using hawkers’ scanners to collect bribes.
On November 1, PSI Dulam was seen stopping a tempo driver for violating traffic rules. Instead of using his challan machine to impose a fine, PSI Dulam opted to use a hawker’s QR code. A minor boy was called to the scene, and the tempo driver made the payment via the code produced by the child.
The mid-day team on November 3 witnessed two similar incidents. In the first, a woman scooter rider, accompanied by a minor boy, was stopped by a woman constable for breaking traffic rules. After a prolonged argument, the constable directed the rider to make a digital payment at a hawker’s stall. The latter complied, scanning the hawker’s device to put the matter to rest.
In the second incident, a male scooter rider, accompanied by a woman, was also stopped by a woman constable. After a lengthy dispute, the latter instructed the man to make an online payment. The man sent the woman to make the payment by scanning a QR code at the stall of a hawker who sells plastic bags. After complying, the woman showed the mobile receipt to the constable as proof of payment.
CopSpeak
Informed about the matter, Senior Inspector Vikas Lokare of the Borivali Traffic Division said, “We have not received any such complaint till now. We have already given challan machines to each officer. I will investigate this matter personally.”
November1
Day tempo driver was stopped
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