2 years on, traffic challan row continues

Sasaram: More than two years after a Rs 4,000 traffic challan was issued against his motorcycle for allegedly not having valid insurance, local trader Sunil Kumar Gupta is still awaiting a resolution despite producing insurance documents.According to Gupta, a challan was issued on March 18, 2024, on the allegation that the vehicle was being operated without valid insurance. He claimed that the motorcycle was duly insured on that date and that he possesses documents to prove it.DSP (traffic) Amar Kant said the matter had been examined and documents related to the challan had been forwarded to the authorities concerned in Patna around two months ago. “The case appeared to involve an error and required corrective action,” Amar said, adding that local traffic authorities do not have the power to cancel the challan and the matter must be decided by higher authorities.Gupta said he approached the traffic police station about a week later with the insurance papers, expecting the matter to be resolved. Instead, he alleged that another challan was issued in connection with the same issue.He claimed he has since made repeated visits to offices and submitted documents to establish that the insurance was valid, but the challan remained active in the system.“This is no longer about Rs 4,000. It is about justice. If I had made a mistake, I would have paid the penalty long ago.

But why should I pay for an error that was not mine?” Gupta said.Gupta alleged that some people advised him to settle the matter by paying about Rs 2,000 under a one-time settlement scheme, but he refused.He also claimed the unresolved challan has affected vehicle-related formalities and that he stopped using the motorcycle after the first challan was issued. Gupta said he now plans to move the high court if the issue is not resolved through administrative channels.