Hyderabad SI suspended after letting six-year-old granddaughter drive, claims he was grooming her to enter Guinness World Records

SI Pujari Tirupathi along with her granddaughter | Photo credit: By arrangement

A police officer in Hyderabad was called out after he allowed his six-year-old granddaughter to drive a car on the busy Gandhamguda-Bairagiguda road in Narsingi, with the officer claiming he was grooming her to attempt a Guinness World Record as the world’s youngest female driver.

Following the incident, Telangana Director General of Police CV Anand directed Cyberabad Police Commissioner M Ramesh to suspend the accused SI and initiate a departmental inquiry into the matter.

The accused, Pujari Tirupathi, is an officer in the rank of SI with the Hyderabad City Police and is currently in the vacancy reserve. The incident, which was reported around 5pm on Saturday, came to light after a video went viral on social media platforms in which a child was seen behind the wheel while a police officer was sitting on the passenger seat.

The footage showed a line of vehicles honking behind the car as traffic slowed on the busy stretch. According to police, the incident caused a brief traffic delay and drew widespread criticism from motorists and social media users, many of whom demanded action against the officer.

Traffic piles up on the busy Gandhamguda-Bairagiguda road in Narsingi. | Photo credit: By arrangement

When the commuters stopped the vehicle and confronted the officer, he defended his actions by saying that the car was automatic and that he stayed over the vehicle. Narsingi Superintendent of Police G. Hari Krishna Reddy told The Hindu that the officer claimed to be training his granddaughter in preparation for a Guinness World Records attempt to become the youngest female driver.

The car in question, bearing registration number ‘TS 07 GP 7450’ and registered in the name of Tirupathi, already had six pending traffic offenses with unpaid challans of ₹3,800. Four challans were issued in Mahbubnagar and two in Hyderabad.

A case was registered against the police officer under Section 125 (endangering life of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act and Sections 184 (dangerous driving) and 180 (allowing unauthorized persons to drive vehicles) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Police said the accused would be served a notice. Under the law, the vehicle’s registration is suspended for 12 months, with the minor ineligible to obtain a driver’s license until the age of 25. A registered owner who allows a minor to drive may also be fined and imprisoned for up to one year.

Published – 12 Jul 2026 20:15 IST