Ahmedabad: A traffic police sub-inspector, allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, crashed his SUV near Rabari Vas in Tragad. Nine bottles of liquor were allegedly recovered from his car. PSI Bharat Pandya, posted as Vishala beat in-charge at M Division traffic police station, was detained by Sabarmati police and later suspended by DCP (traffic West). Sources alleged that despite being an accused in the case, Pandya was kept in a room and not the lock-up.After he crashed his car, locals gathered at the site, confronted him and checked his car. A video recorded at the spot and circulated on social media purportedly shows Pandya slurring and locals finding the booze in the car.A team from Sabarmati police reached the spot after being informed and took Pandya to the police station. According to people present there, Pandya refused to stand when asked to face the media for recording. He allegedly left the spot after asserting his position as a police officer. Pandya was then kept in a room on an upper floor of the police station instead of the lock-up. The circumstances in which he was kept there are likely to form part of the departmental scrutiny, sources said.ACP D V Rana said nine liquor bottles of different sizes were recovered from Pandya’s car. “Pandya has been in the traffic department for nine months. Two separate cases have been registered — one concerning the recovery of liquor bottles and another concerning his allegedly being under the influence of alcohol. We will investigate where the bottles were procured and whether they were meant for his personal consumption or to be given to someone else,” Rana said.The crash has also brought previous allegations against Pandya into focus. During his earlier posting at Shahibaug police station, he was allegedly accused of drunk driving and knocking over roadside stalls. A video of that case had also surfaced. Pandya was also accused of threatening to assault a TRB jawan after the latter allegedly reported his conduct while on duty. A complaint was filed in that matter.
