NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An Indian traffic policeman has been transferred for trying to fine one of the country’s biggest cricket stars, not realising that celebrities are sometimes above the law, newspapers reported on Friday.
Inspector Saifuddin Ahmed thought he was just doing his job when he stopped an expensive sports car in the eastern city of Ranchi for having dark tinted windows – an offence in India.
But sitting behind those windows was cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of India’s hottest celebrities and a hero in his home state of Jharkhand, of which Ranchi is the capital.
Early reports said an unfazed Ahmed insisted Dhoni hand over the 900-rupee fine (10 pounds).
Local police have since back-pedalled, saying Dhoni was allowed to drive on after waving a letter from local authorities giving him special dispensation to break the law.
Ahmed has now been transferred in what is an apparent demotion from the downtown commercial district to a downmarket residential bazaar, the Hindustan Times reported on Friday.
The state’s chief minister was reported as saying that celebrities should expect special treatment when it comes to the law, a widely held notion in India’s upper echelons.
“The police should be liberal while dealing with persons of his stature,” Madhu Koda was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“What is the harm if a person of his standing uses a car with tinted glass windows?”
"What is the harm if a person of his standing uses a car with tinted glass windows?"
Unbelievable, this. I greatly loathe this type of detestable impotent treatment, let alone even a fine case of double-standards. The definition of law in both the countries comes into practice for people who are at or below the middle-class level. Anything close to sitting in a high chair and you go home scot-free. The gloomiest and most affected part, in my eyes, is the fact that not many people are even prepared to recognize it as a crime. They would rather stand on the side of the road and quietly the whole ordeal without saying a word. They know better. One word out of them and they stand behind the receiving end of the supposed law that is made for their protection in the first place.
this chief minister guy is an a hole, the rampant poverty in india and this guy have some 100 acres or so to dhoni plus 1 million dollars for that innings against sl. it is absurd!
Sadly, this is symptomatic of all that is sickening about India.
The chief minister (like somebody pointed out here) is obviously an a-hole.
Another CM - Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to visit Noida - the scene of murder of many young children - simply because it is supposedly considered inauspicious for UP CM's to visit the place (apparently CMs who visit Noida have lost their chair in subsequent elections). Imazine that.
As for Dhoni, now if he could only play as well as he endorses watches, chaddi, baniyan and everything in between.
Lets not blame 'democracy' just yet, rather our (subcontinental people) nature in general, law enforcement in particular. Most LEAs are usually lenient or are forced out of any penalty (sometimes even get penalised like this police guy) against 'higher ups', people with 'connections', but allowing 'celebrities' and then issueing a statement to tell the 'celebrities' that they should feel being above the law is just plain ridiculous. I really hope this CM is dragged to courts by someone and forced out of office, if people can file lawsuits against cricketers for issues like 'oh he attended fashion show', or 'oh he ate beaf' then there should be someone to file a case against idiots like this CM.