A scooter driven by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar during an inspection of the newly constructed loop on Hebbal flyover earlier this week had Rs 18,500 pending in traffic fines from 34 cases of violations, the JD(S) and others alleged.
On Tuesday, Shivakumar rode the two-wheeler while inspecting the Hebbal flyover loop, and his video was widely shared, including his X handle.
“The Hebbal flyover loop is set to open, easing traffic congestion and ensuring smoother and faster commutes as part of our government’s commitment to building a better Bengaluru,” the Karnataka deputy chief minister said in the post.
Later, an R T Nagar traffic police officer confirmed that the vehicle owner voluntarily visited the police station and paid the fine worth Rs 18,500.
#Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister @DKShivakumar ‘s Tuesday bike ride on Hebbal flyover caused embarrassment after it was revealed that the two-wheeler he was riding had Rs 18,500 in pending traffic fines. pic.twitter.com/D3tfXrpU52
— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) August 6, 2025
However, a few hours after the videos started doing rounds, the JD(S) social media cell and others alleged the owner of the two-wheeler had 34 pending traffic violations, including riding without helmets, mobile phone usage while driving, and entering restricted zones, against him on the Bengaluru Traffic Police portal. They said the owner had been fined Rs 18,500 for the violations.
The JD(S) party accused him of prioritising photo opportunities over effective governance and demanded police action to recover the outstanding fines.
R T Nagar traffic police officer confirmed that the vehicle owner voluntarily visited the police station and paid the fine worth Rs 18,500.
As the allegation sparked public scrutiny over the accumulated violations, members of the ruling Congress party quickly clarified that Shivakumar was merely borrowing the vehicle for the brief inspection ride and didn’t own it.
A traffic police constable said it was a good move that Shivakumar drove the scooter. “There are hundreds of violations captured from cameras that are pending. It is humanly impossible to recover those fines. In this case, the owner had not paid despite the 34 violations. With just a short ride by Shivakumar, we were able to clear the violations,” the constable said.