A routine check by the traffic police in Vishakhapatnam found A Siva Satynarayana, a police constable himself, driving under the influence of alcohol. Embarrassed at being charged, the police man tried burning down his vehicle once his vehicle was returned. However, other policemen doused the fire before the vehicle was destroyed and have now filed a case against the constable under two charges – Section 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.) of the Indian Penal Code.

The incident occurred at the Duvvada police station in Vishakhapatnam. According to the police, during the breath analyser test, they found 53 mg alcohol per 100 ml of blood in the III Town police constable. Immediately, the police filed a case and seized Satyanaryana’s vehicle after issuing a challan. He was later asked to attend a counselling session on September 12.

After attending the counselling session, Satynarayana paid a fine in the court and got back his vehicle keys from the Duvvada traffic police.

However, as soon as he got his keys, he rushed towards his vehicle, opened the fuel tank, lit a match stick and dropped it in the tank.

“We did not expect that... As soon as he got the keys, he walked briskly towards the vehicle. He was carrying a match box. He opened the tank and lit the match stick and dropped it in the tank. Fortunately, nothing untoward happen,” said traffic SI of Duvvada, Jagga Rao.

The traffic police promptly doused the fire, and later approached the Duvvada law and order police.

Based on the complaint, the Duvvada police charged him under various sections of the IPC.

A police official from Duvvada told TNM, “When we asked what angered him so much that he would resort to such an action, he told us that he was embarrassed for being caught drunk driving and felt that the bike had caused him this embarrassment.”

It is not known what disciplinary action the III Town police took against Satyanarayana.