In March, the then Mumbai police chief Sanjay Pandey ordered FIRs against motorists and riders taking the wrong side of the road, and four months on, over 20,000 are facing the repercussions of a thoughtless move. “Why harass the public unnecessarily, when you can instead just fine offenders. Have we committed a crime?” ask commuters who are now running from pillar to post because of a police case. They complained that the law, amended last year, was implemented without any awareness; moreover, without installing proper signage, which should have been the priority of the law enforcement agencies.
 
While the former police chief is out of office, the drive is still on, adding to the sufferings of people. Earlier, police used to let wrong-side drivers and riders go with just a fine, but nowadays, most of them have to spend hours at the police station and then at the court.

The order dated March 6 instructed booking the violators under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC, and relevant Sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Since its implementation, police have booked 20,856 people so far.