'Biggest challenge': Anand Mahindra's hilarious take on pollution challan for electric scooter

The cops in Kerala's Malappuram who fined an electric scooter owner last week for not producing a pollution under control (PUC) certificate are the subject of much humour online, and industrialist Anand Mahindra has joined in.

"And you thought the biggest challenge to going electric was charging infrastructure?" Mahindra tweeted.


His followers on the social media platform came up with plenty laughter emojis, while some had their own hilarious takes on the incident.

"They also can charge If you are going with helmet in hand. For not having bike<" commented one user. "Govt has a robust charging infrastructure. They can charge common citizens for any real or imaginary offence," quipped another.

The incident happened in Malappuram when a police team intercepted vehicles and booked traffic offenders. One person, who was fined Rs 250 for not having a PUC certificate for his electric scooter, posted a copy of the challan on Twitter.

Police later claimed it was a typo and that the police person was fining him for failing to produce a copy of his driving licence.

"He neither had a printed document or soft copy of his licence. However, while issuing the ticket, the officer typed a wrong offence number in the machine and a PUC offence ticket came out," a police officer told PTI.

Those driving two-wheelers having a registration number are required by law to have a driving licence, and the fine for not carrying one while on the road is bigger. The penalty for not carrying a PUC certificate, in comparison, is much smaller.

So then the question remained why the police officer let go of the rider with a reduced fee while he was not carrying a driving licence. Police sources were quoted as explaining that they often charge a reduced penalty after commuters plead with them.