What began as a routine late-night vehicle inspection near Uthralikavu in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur, ended in an unusual confrontation between two government enforcement agencies, with a Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) inspector issuing a fine to a police patrol vehicle before later being booked by the same police officers for allegedly obstructing their official duty.
The incident took place at around 11 pm on Wednesday, when Thrissur MVD Enforcement Inspector P.V. Biju stopped a Mahindra Bolero belonging to the Wadakkanchery Police Station, which was reportedly on routine night patrol.
During the inspection, the MVD officer found that the vehicle did not have a valid insurance policy or a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, according to the department’s assessment. He subsequently issued a ₹4,000 challan for the alleged violations.
Police officials, however, disputed the findings. They maintained that the patrol vehicle was covered by a valid insurance policy and that only the PUC certificate was not immediately available during the inspection. Under existing regulations, officials said, the penalty for not carrying a PUC certificate can be reduced to ₹250 if the valid certificate is produced within seven days.
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The matter did not end with the issuance of the challan. The Wadakkanchery Police later registered a case against Inspector Biju, alleging that he had obstructed police personnel from performing their official duties by stopping and blocking the patrol vehicle while it was engaged in night patrol operations.
The development has drawn attention due to the rare nature of the dispute, involving two enforcement agencies carrying out their respective official responsibilities. While the MVD maintains that the inspection was part of routine vehicle enforcement, the police contend that the action interfered with an ongoing patrol assignment.
The incident has now been escalated to senior officials, with higher authorities expected to examine the circumstances surrounding both the traffic enforcement action and the subsequent criminal case to determine whether established procedures were followed by both departments.
The outcome of the inquiry is likely to clarify the sequence of events and address the differing claims made by the Motor Vehicles Department and the police regarding the late-night inspection
