A two-wheeler rider was issued a fine of Rs 500 for not wearing a seat belt at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada. The two-wheeler rider paid the amount, but the issue was taken up by Puttur municipality member Shivarama Sapalaya.
Sapalya told that when he was passing by, he saw Beliappa Gowda being stopped by the police on his return from Mahalingeshwara temple on March 7. “Since Gowda lives in the ward I represent, and runs a petty shop, after two days, I met him and asked him why had the police stopped him. He told me that he was fined for not wearing a seat belt and that the police had collected Rs 500 from him. I decided to approach the police on behalf of Gowda,” he said.
“There are several issues with the challan that has been issued. The name of Beliyapa Gowda has been misspelt in the challan, and the date has been wrongly mentioned. The check report-cum-receipt is dated February 28, 2021, and the vehicle type mentioned is a car. Gowda reportedly requested the police to reduce the fine amount. He claimed to have had all the necessary documents, but the number plate of the vehicle was not an IND one,” Sapalya said.
He met the police officer on Tuesday. “She was initially rude, but later assured to provide Gowda with a refund. We expect the police to be a bit more considerate and people-friendly when dealing with such issues, and will take this issue up with the higher officials,” he added. Dakshina Kannada SP Rishikesh Sonawane said that the veracity of the alleged incident is being looked into.
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