Viral video claims 30-minute traffic halt for governor’s convoy; Bengaluru police deny

Bengaluru: A viral video showing a frustrated motorist sitting on a busy road and confronting traffic police over an alleged prolonged halt for the governor's convoy has reignited the debate over VIP movement and public inconvenience in Bengaluru.

The incident, which occurred on Old Airport Road amid ongoing underpass construction work, triggered outrage on social media after claims surfaced that commuters, including a pregnant woman, had been stranded for nearly 30 minutes. However, a police inquiry disputed several of the allegations.

The controversy began after X user @Prajvalprince posted a video Monday afternoon claiming that traffic on Old Airport Road had stopped for nearly 30 minutes for the governor’s convoy to pass. "A man travelling with his pregnant wife was stuck in the gridlock. When will public convenience matter as much as VIP convenience?" the post read.

The video showed a man identified as Mohid, a resident of Shantinagar, sitting on a zebra crossing near ISRO Junction and arguing with traffic police personnel. He alleged that his vehicle had been stopped even though the governor had not yet departed from HAL Airport.

While the video did not specify where Mohid was headed, social media users and unverified reports claimed he was travelling with his pregnant wife to a hospital and that no alternative route was available.

As the viral video snowballed into a controversy, traffic police initiated an inquiry. A senior police officer said the assistant commissioner of police (traffic-east) examined CCTV footage covering the stretch from HAL Airport to the protest location. "The incident occurred around 1.30pm Sunday within the limits of Jeevan Bima Nagar traffic police station. CCTV footage was verified and it does not indicate that vehicles were stopped for 30 minutes," the officer said.

According to police sources, traffic restrictions were imposed because ongoing underpass construction work forced vehicles in both directions to use a single carriageway. "Only one side of traffic movement was stopped and the maximum halt was seven to eight minutes. Police personnel at the spot checked Mohid's vehicle and did not find any pregnant woman inside," sources said.

Police said Mohid and his wife were summoned by the ACP and their statements were recorded.
"The claims made in the social media post are not entirely accurate. On the same day, Mohid also submitted an apology for causing disruption to police duty," a senior officer said.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic-east) Sahil Bagla reiterated there was no pregnant woman in the vehicle. TOI's attempts to obtain comments from the governor's office did not elicit a response.