Telangana's Director General of Police (DGP), C.V. Anand, has ordered the suspension of a police officer after a video surfaced showing the officer's six-year-old granddaughter driving a car on a busy road in Hyderabad on Saturday evening, 12 July. The DGP directed the Cyberabad Police Commissioner to place the officer under suspension and initiate a departmental enquiry into the incident.

What Happened on Gandhamguda Road

Sub-Inspector (SI) Pujari Thirupathi, attached to Narsingi Police Station, was found allowing his minor granddaughter — reportedly aged just six — to drive a car along Gandhamguda road on Saturday evening. Bystanders who witnessed the scene objected, prompting the child to tell them that her grandfather was a police officer. Thirupathi reportedly argued that the vehicle was an automatic car and that he remained in control at all times. Onlookers pushed back, asking him to take the child to an open ground rather than endangering other road users.

Video Goes Viral, Action Follows

A video of the incident circulated widely on social media over the weekend, triggering significant public outrage. Police took cognisance of the footage and moved swiftly. Cyberabad Police announced on Sunday night that a case had been registered against Pujari Thirupathi under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 184 and 180 of the Motor Vehicles Act for permitting a minor to operate a vehicle on a public road. Further investigation is in progress, according to Cyberabad Traffic Police.

Jurisdictional Clarification

Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh clarified that Thirupathi is not currently posted within Cyberabad police limits. In a post on X in response to the DGP's directive, the Commissioner wrote: 'We are sending a report to the competent authority to place him under suspension forthwith and to initiate disciplinary action against him Sir.' The matter has accordingly been referred to the officer's parent jurisdiction for formal action.

Significance and What Comes Next

The incident is notable precisely because the accused is a law-enforcement officer — someone whose professional duty is to uphold traffic regulations. Notably, this comes amid a broader national conversation about child road safety and the enforcement of motor vehicle laws. A departmental enquiry is expected to run parallel to the criminal case registered under the BNS and Motor Vehicles Act. The outcome could set a precedent for how Telangana Police handles in-house violations of traffic law.