Image Source: X/(ShivRaj Yadav)
A viral video has led to the suspension of three Gurugram traffic police officers accused of taking a bribe from a Japanese tourist, showing how digital technology and public outrage can hold officials accountable.
On August 25, 2025, Japanese tourist Yamato was riding pillion on a motorcycle with a female friend. While she wore a helmet, Yamato did not, a common sight on the roads that day. Traffic police near a U-turn stopped them and demanded a cash fine of Rs 1,000, refusing digital or card payments, claiming their PoS machine was not working. Later the officers did not provide a receipt.
Japanese tourist Yamato paid with two ₹500 notes while being recorded on camera; one officer was seen smiling. Before letting them go, the police took the woman’s phone number and asked her to call them if stopped again.
That evening, Yamato shared the encounter on X (formerly Twitter), calling it the “only scam” he faced in India and calling the bribe “pocket money” for the officers. He also questioned why he was singled out while many others rode without helmets.
The case gained attention because Yamato had been wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which recorded the entire interaction in high definition. On Monday, he posted the video on Instagram, where he has many Indian followers. The footage quickly went viral on X, with users tagging Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and senior Gurugram police officials, sparking nationwide outrage.
The Gurugram police acted quickly. On the same day, they acknowledged the incident and requested more details. The official traffic police handle reaffirmed a “Zero Tolerance Against Corruption” policy and suspended three officers: Zone Officer ESI Karan Singh, Constable Shubham, and Constable Bhupender. The post also provided contacts for reporting corruption, promising confidentiality and prompt action.
Yamato expressed surprise at the speed of the action, noting the suspensions came just nine hours after his video went viral. He credited his “outraged Indian followers” for amplifying the post and described the incident humorously as a “funny” end to an otherwise scam-free trip.
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