I have been seeing a lot of these over the past couple of months & always wonder, whether does it matter to the Traffic Police or RTO or even more importantly the fine of Rs. 100/- probably is too little to make a difference to anybody; BUT then WTF do ordinary citizens keep getting caught on such matters?

A couple of months back, the wife had gone for a play at Mithibai. After dropping her & my parents, the driver parked the car in a by lane & was getting down; when Bam a car came from outside of the society compound & hit the car.

The driver was caught - a cleaner gurkha without license, from a business man’s family, taking the car for a joy ride, mistress fast asleep in the air conditioned house. He was taken to the Juhu Police Station for registering a complaint & there the following Learning came to light from the Head Constable -

• Not too much damage (WTF, if it had been your car? what would you have done?)
• Why did you bring him here? (So, did you expect us to take him for a movie or award night?)
• Do you want to register a complaint (Nope, just came to meet my in laws)
• Mandavli Karun Taaka (Take the money for repairs & finish the matter - What’s wrong with you?)
• Oh, you want to claim more insurance etc.

All this while, my wife is explaining to him that the issue here is driving without a license coupled with the carelessness of the owners. Finally, an Inspector intervened, having understood the matter & asked the constable to do the needful quickly.

His owner was asked to come, but he was out of station, so a constable was sent to get the lady, who finally landed up herself, having realized that the car had disappeared….full of attitude, not even being worried about what had happened.

Net result - FIR was lodged, copy collected after a week & obviously the nepali boy is still roaming around with his mistresses car, maybe even having damaged more & the owners - rich though they are have no civic sense, but will be the first person to shout & ask for justice, if the same boy does something to them…..Such is Life!

A couple of days ago, some men took away covers from the drainage in our society. Whilst the watchmen chased them, they ran away & nothing much could be done, since it was 3.30 am

The very next day one of them returned to do some more damage & was caught by the watchmen on duty. Being the chairperson of the society was called down to decide what could be done with the person who was caught….since he claimed to be a “Khabri” (informer) of the Oshiwara police station.

Salim - the so called Khabri of Police

So I called 100 from my cell phone - took 3 tries but managed to get through. Impressed with the efficiency of the constable who took down the details & said somebody would be there within 10 minutes.

Whilst, the druggie kept shouting, I decided to call the local police station - Oshiwara - in this case, just to be on the safe side, After 15 rings some constable picked up the phone. Upon explaining, he asked for the address & then began my problem - we supposedly fell into Amboli Police Station - No amount of arguing, cajoling, GPS, Google convinced him that it was not the case.

So finally took the number from him & called Amboli Police Station, which gave the same run around, with finally telling me that both the police stations are next door to each other in the same compound!

Back, to Oshiwara & managed to convince them to send someone.

20 minutes later finally a cop walked in & started firing questions to everyone generally:

• Who is this?
• Who called?
• Why did you waste time unnecessarily
• These druggies are useless

When I spoke tough with him, saying that the said druggie also claimed to be a murderer & asked for his ID, he said Ok Ok, I’ll take him, but send the watchmen to write a complaint.

Just as they were going out, a police vehicle came up, sent by 100 control inquiring about the incident, upon which our man tried to impress that he had everything under control.

The entire episode took an hour & half, but I was most impressed by the control 100…..with just a bit of more manpower & automation, they can do wonders.

Keep it going Mumbai Police

A week back, after an entertaining citizens meeting at Atithi (nay, we were asked to vacate the restaurant) Bawa international, left to come home along with couple of friends.

Coming out from the one way of domestic airport, waited to cross over the highway. No cars passing on the highway towards bandra, a cop gesticulating all over the country side from beneath the half complete flyover, cars honking from behind, no visible signal and I moved ahead, crossing the highway & came to a stand still below the flyover.

Up rushed the gesticulating constable Vijay Gopal Kurade badge nos 960452. And the questions started…….

Did you not see the signal? No sir, it is not visible on the other side
You have come ahead already? Yes sir, but you were waving to come
I was not waving for you. Ok but how am I supposed to know
You are educated, how can you make such mistakes. Yes sir, but I did not take the constable’s exam
Licence. Yes
Gujarat licence Yes
Maharashtra Car Yes
And multiple other questions……before the punch line……Pavti Phadu Kai!

Having earlier warned my friend not to speak (since he is a maharashtrian); I had exhausted my vocabulary, so said ‘Jo rule hai woh karo saab’

This was followed by a description of where I would have to go, time taken etc. etc. But we were insistent on the Pavti

Finally, he gave up, preparing the same, admonishing us that his duty was getting over soon, so we better hurry back.

Off we went, to the airport where a trailer was occupied by traffic as a chowky.

Went in, empty, with AC working full blast. 10 minutes later, some constables who were outside loitered in to find out what we were upto. My friend who was smoking outside, gave them the version (and no they did not ask him to stop smoking in a public place). They came in, verified and asked me again whether I wanted to wait or what? Since I was insistent & told them to call the Sub Inspector, one of them dragged his mobile phone & called up! Why could they not use the walkie talkie which were lying around, no idea….

Sub Inspector walked in 5 minutes later….And there the story changed…..India there is hope for you…….

Polite, courteous, introduced himself, apologies for delay, explained that being a friday….Don’t Drink & Drive was being organized (it is a different matter & story that I shall relate sometime) and hence. Made the challan, accepted the fine (a measly 100/-) bade us good bye….with the wish that there should be more responsible citizens like us.

Reaching the junction again, Kurade handed over the licence…..his smile clearly saying……Win some Lose some….

In the last 15 years in Mumbai, this is the second time, I have had to pay the challan & have not paid without it! But it left me with a sense of self satisfaction that in my own small way….i did not try & corrupt the system.