Gurugram Traffic Cops Suspended After Tourist's Smart Glasses Capture Bribe

Gurugram: Three traffic police officers in Gurugram have been suspended after a Japanese tourist’s smart glasses recorded them allegedly taking a bribe. The video went viral on social media, sparking quick action from authorities.

The incident took place on August 25, when the tourist, identified as Yamato, was riding pillion with a woman friend. While she was wearing a helmet, he wasn’t. The two were stopped near a U-turn by traffic police, who demanded a ?1,000 cash fine.

According to reports, the officers refused digital payment, claimed their PoS machine wasn’t working, and didn’t provide any receipt. Yamato eventually paid in cash, handing over two ?500 notes. The video shows the policemen counting the money, with one even smiling. Before letting them go, they also took down the woman’s phone number, telling her to call them if she was stopped again.

That evening, Yamato posted about the encounter on X (formerly Twitter), calling it the only “scam” of his India trip and joking that the money was “pocket money” for the officers. What the policemen didn’t know was that Yamato was wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which had recorded the entire interaction in high definition.

The footage was later shared on Instagram and X, where it quickly went viral. Many tagged Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and senior Gurugram police officials, demanding action.

Responding to the outrage, Gurugram Police posted that they follow a “zero tolerance against corruption” policy and announced the immediate suspension of three officers: Zone Officer ESI Karan Singh, Constable Shubham, and Constable Bhupender. They also shared helpline details for reporting corruption.

Yamato expressed surprise at how fast things moved, noting that the suspensions came within nine hours of his video going viral. He thanked his Indian followers for amplifying the issue, joking that it was a “funny” end to his otherwise scam-free trip.

However, not everyone was convinced. Some social media users questioned whether suspension was enough, pointing out that officers often return to duty after a few months with minimal consequences.