Pramesh S Jain
The Sadashivanagar Traffic Police on Saturday arrested a 30-year-old ambulance driver for misusing a siren to obtain a free passage for personal work.
The accused,Mohan Kumar,a resident of Banashankari 3rd Stage and an employee of a private hospital,was allegedly driving an ambulance in a rash and negligent manner with the siren switched on along New BEL Road while heading towards Sadashivanagar Police Station from MS Ramaiah Hospital.
Police personnel on duty grew suspicious and intercepted the ambulance.Upon inspection,they found that there was no patient inside the vehicle.
During questioning,Mohan Kumar claimed that he was rushing to pick up a sick patient.However,the claim was later verified and found to be false, officer said further verification found that he was heading home for some personal work.
Taking strong objection to the misuse of emergency facilities,the police seized the ambulance and arrested the driver.
A case has been registered against him under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)for causing danger and obstruction on a public road.
The police have also seized the driver’s licence and forwarded it to the transport department with a recommendation for suspension.
“This is the second such case booked by us,and it should serve as a lesson to others misusing emergency provisions,”a senior police officer said.
He added that some drivers misuse sirens and top lights,especially at night,to hoodwink traffic personnel, even stopping other vehicles,and in one instance,briefly halting the Home Minister’s convoy to allow such an ambulance to pass.
Following the detection of such misuse,traffic police personnel have been instructed to remain vigilant and take strict action against offenders, the officer added.
