"₹8,000 Challan or ₹500 Now?" — Alleged Bribe Demand Caught on Camera
A video circulating widely on social media appears to show a traffic policeman in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, demanding a bribe from a bike rider during a routine vehicle check at the Chamar Gate intersection, within the Sadar Kotwali police station area.
What the Video Shows
In the clip, the officer is heard threatening an ₹8,000 fine before offering to "settle the matter" for ₹500 in cash. The young rider is heard explaining that he'd just received the ₹500 from his father — the officer presses him to hand it over regardless, repeating that the payment would clear everything.
The exchange, captured on video, quickly went viral, sparking outrage online and reportedly causing an uproar within the local police department.
Investigation Ordered
Following the video's spread, authorities have ordered a formal investigation into the incident.
Part of a Larger, Recurring Pattern
This isn't an isolated case. Similar videos showing traffic and police personnel allegedly accepting bribes have surfaced and gone viral across India in recent months — including incidents in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Hapur, Delhi's Gazipur checkpost, Bengaluru, Jammu & Kashmir's Samba district, and Bhadohi — most resulting in suspensions and departmental inquiries.
The Hathras case adds to a growing body of citizen-recorded evidence putting pressure on police departments nationwide to address alleged extortion during routine vehicle checks.