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Cop suspended after Facebook post on bribe demand goes viral

On March 10, Isaac Anthony was stopped by traffic police constable Rambhau Maruti Chakor at Mazgaon, which is under Byculla traffic division. Later, Anthony wrote a post of his encounter with Chakor and the ordeal he went through.

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A Facebook post of an ordeal written by a biker has led to the suspension of a traffic police constable. The constable had stopped the biker at Mazgaon and demanded bribe. When the biker refused to comply, the constable made him wait for hours in the traffic chowky. When the biker decided to speak to police commissioner Rakesh Maria, the frightened constable let him off. The biker had posted his bitter experience on FB.

On March 10, Isaac Anthony was stopped by traffic police constable Rambhau Maruti Chakor at Mazgaon, which is under Byculla traffic division. Later, Anthony wrote a post of his encounter with Chakor and the ordeal he went through.

Anthony's FB post read: "Stops me at Mazgaon circle for no reason at all. With my Pollution Under Control (PUC), insurance and registration in place there is no fault he can find to make money by asking for a bribe. He then discusses with fellow constable and realises that my bike is imported proceeds to attack me with an expired green tax on my bike. Having realised I'm at fault I agree to pay the required fine. But Mr Maruti wants a bribe of 1500 bucks."

"I decline and insist to pay the fine. Asks for 1000 bucks and finally 500 bucks. 40 mins later he realises that I'm not going to bribe him, decides to impound my bike, takes my bike keys and my licence in hope of making money. I stood my ground and let him take the bike. I decided to speak to the commissioner regardless of the outcome. At this point Mr Maruti panics and returns my bike and licence and forces me to leave. But shame on you #Mumbaitrafficpolice and shame on us who don't stand our ground. This chalta hai attitude has plagued our nation. Whether it be rape, women's rights or corruption, yeh chalta hai attitude nahin chalega dost," the post concludes.

After the post went viral on social media, the message reached the traffic police headquarters. Additional commissioner of police (traffic) Qaiser Khalid contacted Anthony on March 31 and sought details of the case from him. Anthony then visited the traffic police office with all his bike documents and got his statement recorded.

"The act done by constable Chakor has maligned the police department. Hence Chakor has been suspended, pending inquiry," Anand Mandya, confirmed deputy commissioner of police (traffic).

Similar incidents

March 2013 - Kima, a blogger who goes by the name of Mizohican, wrote a blog explaining how he had been racially abused by a policeman at Malabar Hill. A constable who was driving a police van near Hanging Gardens had called out to Kima and his friends by calling them 'Kancha'. He had assumed that they were blocking his way. The constable had further said "Kathmandu se aarela kya? (Have you come from Kathmandu?)". The blog created furore and an inquiry was constituted. The constable had to apologise for his comments.

November 2014 - IT professional Dhan Raj Bansal posted a tweet along with a link to a video which showed a cop arguing with him. Bansal claimed that following the argument on Military Road at Marol in Andheri (E), the policeman had threatened to arrest him and his friends. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis replied to this tweet of Bansal stating it has been sent to the police chief to be followed upon. Following the CM's intervention, the police had instituted an inquiry.

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