Who will police the police: Mumbai cops caught on the 'wrong side' of traffic laws

Aarey junction, at 3.35 pm: A traffic cop, with bike registration MH04CF3347, rides the wrong way on WEH towards Aarey junction, on Tuesday. Pics/Nimesh Dave, Shadab Khan

Two days after Mumbai's new Commissioner of Police (CP) Sanjay Pandey ordered FIRs against motorists and riders taking wrong lanes, mid-day caught on camera several cops who were breaking the rule without fear of punishment.

Andheri, at 4.15 pm: A police vehicle drives on the wrong side under the WEH Metro station

Men in white were deployed prominently across the city on Day 2 to implement the CP's new order, which states that the violators be booked under Sections 279 (rash driving/riding) and 336 (endangering human life and safety of others) of the IPC and relevant Sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Traffic police have caught many since the order's implementation on Monday, but mid-day saw several officers go unpunished on Tuesday. Defending his men, Joint CP (traffic) Rajvardhan said they "could be attending to some emergency". "The rules are the same for everyone, including police officers. But, police duty comes under emergency service and in such a case, if officers are taking the wrong side of the road, we can't stop them and take action against them. Police vehicles can use the sirens for safety purposes when using wrong lanes. Many traffic police officers use wrong lanes for emergency work to reach the spot. If those officers are violating the rule for their personal use, then they can be booked," he told mid-day.

CP Pandey did not respond to mid-day's calls and messages.

Mahim West, at 12.13 pm

A traffic cop rides his bike, with registration MH01AG436, on the wrong side of the Western Express Highway, towards Aarey junction, at 2.51 pm on Tuesday

Another traffic cop, riding with his colleague, is seen at the same spot at 3 pm

A police officer rides his patrolling bullet bearing registration number MH01AN2471 on the wrong side of the Old Cadell Road, Mahim West, at 12.17 pm on Tuesday

This cop is violating not just one, but two rules. He is riding without a helmet and on the wrong side of the Eastern Express Highway, at Mulund Toll Naka, at 1.09 pm on Tuesday. Pic/Sameer Markande