Two traffic police officers caught on camera accepting bribes

Two separate incidents of Bengaluru traffic police personnel allegedly accepting bribes were caught on camera on Saturday, raising fresh fears of corruption in traffic enforcement.

The traffic constable, identified as Somashekhar of the Pulakeshinagar traffic police station, was suspended after he allegedly accepted a bribe of ₹5,000 from a truck driver.

According to the suspension order issued by Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police Eastern Transport Sahil Bagla, Somashekhar allegedly demanded money from a truck driver, Syed Afroz, who was transporting an iron-laden truck during a vehicle inspection.

The senior constable was accused of threatening the driver that a formal case would lead to court proceedings and a fine if he did not pay the bribe. The truck driver is said to have recorded the transaction on his mobile phone and submitted the video to senior police officials. After a preliminary investigation, the senior constable was suspended on allegations of misconduct and acceptance of illegal gratification.

In another incident, a traffic assistant at Peenya traffic police station was reportedly seen accepting ₹200 from a motorist at 8th Mile. According to the allegations, the police stopped the rider while checking the vehicle and allegedly told him that they would let him go if he paid ₹200. Residents recorded the exchange on their mobile phones. In the video, the motorist is heard saying, “I paid ₹200 and they let me go.” The video has since surfaced on social media and sparked public criticism.

While body-worn cameras are mandatory for traffic police personnel in the city, in both these incidents, the accused officers were found to have allegedly failed to follow the directive.

Published – 26 Jul 2026 18:26 IST