'DNA exclusive': What has policing in Bangalore come down to

He is not a cop. He is not even a traffic warden. He is just an ordinary man. And still, Prabhu—as he is known to the Sadashivanagar police—wears a ‘uniform’, albeit without a breastplate (bearing his name) or a number on his white hat, and stands next to Sadashivanagar police station to catch drink-driving motorists. And he does all this with his face masked and a jacket covering his shirt to conceal the absence of his breastplate.

DNA found that Prabhu (actually a footpath vendor who sells shirts) does all this with the blessing of Sadashivanagar traffic police inspector, Ashok Narayan Pise, who pays him Rs100 “per catch”.

Prabhu even chases and nabs suspected two-wheeler riders who try to avoid being fined. This is a strict no-no as per the directions of the traffic police top brass to prevent the riders from being killed while trying to escape.

The city has witnessed many fake cops stopping vehicles and demanding money from motorists. The latest was a son of an honest assistant sub-inspector who posed as a law & order cop in Koramangala to stop motorists to collect bribe from them.
The only difference here is that Prabhu enjoys the support of Sadashivanagar police inspector and the other traffic policemen.

Prabhu is “on duty” from 9 pm to 1 am when the traffic police put up barricades to check for drink-and-drive cases.

AddlCP (traffic) MA Saleem said this should not be allowed and said he would inquire into the case.