Everyone is equal before the law?

While some are dealt with appropriately for breaking the rules, others make up the law as they go along, especially if that someone is related to an influential politico

Law enforcement agencies appear to have a variable yardstick when it comes to upholding the law, especially when relatives of someone in power end up on the wrong side of it.


Kannada television actress Maitreyi was sent to jail for assaulting a traffic cop Shivkumar after
jumping a signal on Friday. The actress will be filing a defamation case against the cop for damaging her reputation.

While Kannada television actress Maitreyi was sent to jail for assaulting a traffic cop after jumping a signal on Friday, a minister's son allegedly got off without as much as being fined, after he brushed against a two-wheeler on Saturday night.

According to sources, the influential person was driving towards Nandidurg Road from Commercial Street when he accidentally brushed against a motorist near the Bharati Nagar junction. A heated argument ensued, following which he allegedly roughed up the motorist.

In spite of a police sub-inspector attached to Bharati Nagar station rushing to the spot to take control of the situation, the minister's son allegedly dropped his father's name and advised the cop to stay out of the argument.

High handedness?
When contacted, the jurisdictional police officer said that he heard about the incident, but there was no act of assault against any police personnel as in the Maiteryi case.
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"He might have introduced himself and said that they would settle the issue among themselves. Even the motorist who was allegedly 'roughed up' has not filed a complaint," he said.

Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic and security) Praveen Sood said, "There was a minor accident and a traffic police official who rushed to the accident spot brought both of the parties to the station.
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The police even suggested that the motorist could file a complaint to pursue the case, but he decided against it," Sood
clarified.

Further, Sood refuted the allegation that the minister's son intimidated the police by dropping names. "The incident happened between the minister's son and the motorist.
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The traffic cop is nowhere involved, and hence the question of intimidation and dropping names does not even arise," "he said.

Maitreyi case
Regarding Friday's incident, Maitreyi and her relatives were on their way to a wedding when they reportedly jumped a red light at the National School junction on West of Chord Road around 12.45 pm.

Constable Shivakumar stopped the vehicle and was allegedly assaulted when he informed the accused to pay a fine.

"I jumped the traffic signal. But I immediately stopped the car when the traffic police directed me to do so. He provoked me to retaliate by using objectionable words," Maitreyi said.

The group allegedly abused Sub-Inspector G P Raju when he intervened and is said to have also abused the crowd, which had gathered at the spot.

Maitreyi was later arrested and spent a night in jail before being granted bail on a bond of Rs 25,000 and with the requirement to appear before the investigation officer twice a month.