Bodycam footage clears cop of assault charge in Bengaluru

Bengaluru:A body-worn camera footage helped a traffic police officer bust false allegations of assault.The incident occurred near Devanahalli bypass when sub-inspector Shankarappa Dat, attached to Devanahalli traffic police station, flagged down a motorcycle rider, Mahendra, for traffic violations. His pillion rider, a woman, was not wearing a helmet, and the motorcycle had no number plates.
When questioned, Mahendra allegedly replied arrogantly, claiming that the dealer had failed to provide the number plates and suggesting that action be taken against the dealership. The sub-inspector pointed out that the dashboard showed over 7,000km of mileage. After an argument for more than 30 minutes, he paid Rs 3,000 fine and left, sub-inspector Dat told TOI.Soon after, Mahendra (@Mahendra7353855) posted on X alleging that the SI and his team had assaulted him. Following Mahendra's post, deputy commissioner of police (traffic, north division) Jayaprakash SH ordered an inquiry. After going through the footage from the SI's body camera, the police confirmed his innocence."As a rule, I always switch on my body-worn camera while issuing fines to the violators; this protects us from mischievous commuters like Mahendra who make false allegations later," said the SI, an ex-Army man and serving with city police for eight years."A preliminary inquiry was conducted regarding allegations circulated by Mahendra, a two-wheeler rider, against Shankarappa Dat, police sub-inspector, Devanahalli traffic police station. During the inquiry, the complete video and audio footage recorded by the body-worn camera worn by the PSI at the time of the incident were thoroughly examined. The footage clearly establishes that the two-wheeler rider, along with the lady pillion rider, was found violating traffic rules by riding without a registered number plate and by not wearing a helmet. It was observed that the video clips posted on social media by the rider were edited and incomplete, and that crucial portions of the incident were deliberately omitted, thereby creating a misleading narrative and spreading misinformation among the public," the DCP said in his reply to Mahendra's post on X.