A scooter registered in Coimbatore, bearing the number TN37AF4170, has accumulated a staggering 249 traffic challans amounting to ₹3.69 lakh on the Parivahan online portal. The discovery has brought to light significant irregularities within the city's traffic enforcement system, as many of these fines appear to be associated with photographs of entirely different vehicles.
Discrepancies in Enforcement Records
According to reports, a detailed examination of several challans revealed that while the scooter's registration number was cited, the accompanying photographic evidence often depicted other types of vehicles, including motorcycles, trucks, and cars. These discrepancies raise serious questions about the accuracy and integrity of the digital challan issuance process.
For instance, one pending challan for ₹1,000, issued on May 17 by Sub-Inspector S. Karuvelan of Race Course police station, correctly showed the image of the scooter TN37AF4170. However, another ₹1,000 challan dated January 8, issued by Special Sub-Inspector V. Srinivasan of R.S. Puram police station, displayed an image of a truck with a different registration number. Crucially, this particular challan also omitted the registration number of the vehicle actually involved in the alleged violation.
Further investigation uncovered another ₹1,000 challan from October 13, 2025, linked to the same scooter registration, which again featured a photograph of a truck. The image in this instance reportedly appeared tampered with, rendering the vehicle's number plate unclear. A broader review of the 249 pending challans indicated that multiple notices showing incorrect vehicle photographs were issued by the same police officers.
Official Response and Unresolved Status
When questioned about these apparent irregularities, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner N. Kannan stated he was unaware of the situation but assured that he would launch an investigation into the matter.
The current status of registration number TN37AF4170, including whether the scooter is still active or who its present owner might be, remains unascertained. The widespread nature of these errors suggests a systemic issue that could affect numerous vehicle owners and undermine public trust in traffic enforcement.