Drunk driving: MVD official suspended from service

An assistant motor vehicle inspector of the Ernakulam Regional Transport Office (RTO), Binu. N.S., was suspended from service on Thursday, a day after he was booked by the Thrikkakara police on charge of drunk driving. The police registered a case against Mr. Binu after taking him into custody on Wednesday night.

Transport Commissioner C.H. Nagaraju suspended Mr. Binu pending inquiry, citing violation of the service code of conduct. The Commissioner also ordered the Regional Transport Officer, Muvattupuzha, to conduct an inquiry into the incident and file a report within a month.

Mr. Binu landed in trouble as the public grew suspicious about his behaviour when he allegedly tried to slap a fine on a fish vendor at Thoppil, Thrikkakara, on Wednesday night. Binu, who was in plainclothes, reportedly asked the vendor to pay a fine for unauthorised sale on the vehicle. When the vendor refused to pay the money, the official remained adamant, drawing the attention of onlookers who alerted the police as they suspected him to be drunk.

The police took him into custody after a breathalyzer test. He was charged with rash driving under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and driving under the influence of alcohol under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police said.