INDORE: Putting up a ‘Chowkidar’ sign next to his SUV’s registration plate cost has set up a BJP MLA for a court date. Ram Dongare, legislator from Pandhana , was fined by Khandwa police on Monday evening for violating traffic rules.During a routine check at Indira Chowk in Khandwa, traffic police stopped a car with a sign on its grille that said ‘Chowkidar Pandhana’. Traffic police officer Jyoti Suryawanshi asked the driver to remove the plate, but Dongare, who was travelling in the SUV, stepped out and demanded to know which rule forbids him from installing such a sign.As the argument heated up, Khandwa traffic DSP Santosh Kaul went to the spot along with other officers. “The law says that only a number plate can be installed on the vehicle. Besides, BJP has launched ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign and, thus, installing a nameplate that says ‘Chowkidar’ is its promotion. It’s a violation of model code of conduct,” Kaul told TOI.When police explained the law, the MLA agreed to remove the sign, said Kaul.The registration plate, too, was improper and a searchlight was installed on the roof without the owner having taken permission. Because of all this, the MLA was fined under Sections 51/177 and 111/177 of The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989,” the DSP said, adding that Dongare refused to pay the fine on the spot and asked for it to be submitted in court on Wednesday.The MLA — who is a teacher and has a BE degree in IT — did not respond to queries on the matter.A video of the argument between Suryawanshi and Dongare has gone viral.

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