‘Drunk’ youths take traffic police to court

Two motorbike riders, who were fined for drunk driving on March 11, have dragged the traffic police to court, claiming they are being wrongly charged.

The two have approached the Mumbai sessions court challenging the police claims.

According to the complaint filed in the sessions court, Divyesh Bhal, 30 and Avinash Kumar, 30, both media professionals, were on their way to Gorai to celebrate Holi on March 11.

Around 11 am, the traffic police at Borivli junction stopped them and subjected them to a breathalyser test. Both tested positive. "I was shocked because I had not consumed alcohol for a fortnight," Bhal said.

Kumar, who was on another bike, says he volunteered to undergo the test. He too tested positive. The two say on their insistence they were taken to Bhagwati Hospital. “We insisted on giving our blood and urine samples. But the doctor merely asked us to walk a couple of steps and concluded the policeman was right," said Bhal.
They then paid Rs2,000 fine, and their driving licenses were confiscated too.

The duo immediately got themselves tested in a private laboratory. "As expected, the reports were negative. Our point was proved," said Bhal.

DG Hothkar, DCP (western suburbs) says when caught, all motorists deny they are drunk. He negated the possibility of the machine being faulty.  "We will look into the matter," said Hothkar.
The police said reports of tests done in a private laboratory were not admissible as evidence in court.