Karnataka Congress MLA Prakash Koliwad was fined on August 25 for riding a motorcycle without wearing a helmet. The MLA later took to social media to applaud the police officer for issuing the fine, a gesture that drew significant attention online.
Koliwad, who represents Ranebennur, was issued a notice by the Haveri Superintendent of Police following the traffic violation. He subsequently paid the penalty.
After paying the fine, Koliwad praised the officer for carrying out her duty and acknowledged his own mistake. He also apologised for riding without a helmet and urged people to follow traffic rules.
Similar Incident Involving BJP MLA
A similar instance was reported in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, when BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi found himself in the spotlight after being seen riding a motorcycle without a helmet in Deoria. What made the incident unusual was that the legislator himself acknowledged the violation, requested police action and paid the resulting fine.
The incident occurred on May 17 and came to light after a video showing Tripathi riding a Bullet motorcycle surfaced on social media. The Deoria Sadar MLA was seen riding alongside three other motorcycles, with a black SUV following the group.
The footage, reportedly recorded near Tripathi’s residence in the Mehdapurwa area, quickly attracted attention over the apparent traffic violation.
Tripathi later addressed the matter on social media, explaining that he had agreed to ride the motorcycle after a party worker asked him to “inaugurate” a newly purchased bike. He admitted that riding without a helmet was a mistake and subsequently paid a fine of Rs 1,000.
Tripathi later admitted that he should not have ridden without a helmet, acknowledging that the act amounted to a traffic violation. He said he had agreed to the request despite knowing the rules.
The MLA also said he personally approached the Deoria police and asked them to take action against him. Acting on his request, police issued a Rs 1,000 challan under the Motor Vehicles Act, which Tripathi later paid.