Purnia challan for truck parked in Haryana garage

PATNA: A 28-year-old transporter in Haryana was baffled by a challan message he received on his phone from Bihar Police for his truck violating the Motor Vehicle’s Act in Purnia district even as the vehicle was parked in a garage in Ambala.
Hemant Kumar received the message on his mobile phone on November 20, which said his truck bearing registration No.HR37D 6266 had been issued a challan of Rs 2,000 for violating the MV Act.The challan was issued from Purnia, around 1,575 km from Ambala, where the vehicle was under repair. “My vehicle had never visited Bihar ever since I purchased it in 2015. It was quite surprising to know that I have been penalized for violating the traffic rules despite my vehicle being parked at Ambala in Haryana on the particular date and time,” Hemant told TOI from Ambala on Friday.
The Maheshnagar police in Haryana contacted their counterparts in Purnia and also provided Hemant the contact number of Purnia DSP Satyendra Kumar. “The DSP, Purnia said he was unaware of any such challan,” the transporter said.
DSP Kumar, however, suggested that Hemant come to Purnia to lodge a formal complaint. Peeved at the DSP’s suggestion to travel to Bihar lodge a police complaint, Hemant approached some acquaintances in Bihar, who provided him the mobile number of the motor vehicle inspector of Purnia.
When Hemant contacted MVI Nishant Kumar, he was directed to talk to his subordinate Sumit Kumar, who finally revealed the truth. “It was a human error. The vehicle’s registration number had mistakenly been entered in the challan issued on November 20,” Hemant quoted the transport department official as saying.
The transporter heaved a sigh of relief after it was confirmed that it was not his vehicle but another truck, which was penalized for violating the MV Act. “I had to go through the mental agony for no fault of mine,” Hemant, who also runs a restaurant in Ambala Cantt area, said.