Police Launch Probe After Viral Video of Vadodara Traffic Stop
The Vadodara city police have initiated a detailed investigation following allegations of assault made by a 30-year-old man against personnel of the Sayajigunj traffic police station. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, January 3, 2026, gained traction after videos purportedly showing the altercation surfaced online.
In a significant development, the police have also registered a case against the complainant, identified as Kaushal Jat. He has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act for allegedly obstructing public servants and committing several traffic violations.
The Incident at Dandia Bazar-Akota Junction
The confrontation began around 10:30 am on Saturday at the Dandia Bazar-Akota junction. Traffic police personnel stopped Jat for allegedly riding a motorcycle without a number plate. Upon checking, they found further infractions: the two-wheeler had a modified silencer, violating prohibitory orders. Jat was also reportedly not wearing a helmet, was speaking on a mobile phone while riding, and could not produce a valid driver's licence.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D M Vyas stated that when officers tried to penalise Jat for these violations, he began arguing and resisting. "He misbehaved with the traffic personnel, including a woman. The officers then used force to push him into the police vehicle and bring him to the Sayajigunj traffic police station," Vyas explained.
Police Counter with Video Evidence and Family Claims
In response to the circulating videos showing injury marks on Jat, the police on Sunday released counter-footage. This included recordings from a body-worn camera of the traffic police and CCTV from the junction. A third video was released showing Jat's parents, who allegedly admitted they had no identity card to prove their initial claim that his father was an army personnel.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Manjita Vanzara clarified the legal action. An FIR was registered at the Raopura police station based on a complaint by armed police constable Kiran Jogadiya. Jat has been booked under BNS sections for voluntarily causing hurt, obstruction, criminal intimidation, and abetment.
Vanzara added, "The medical reports from SSG hospital, including the orthopaedic and surgery department, say that no grievous injuries were found on Jat’s person. Minor injuries have been sustained by him and also by police personnel with whom he was involved in a scuffle." Initial inquiry also revealed that Jat's father is attached to the Railway Police in Kheda district.
Probe into Assault Allegations and Jurisdiction Questions
Regarding Jat's complaint of police assault, Assistant Commissioner of Police (C Division) Ashok Rathva stated that a cross FIR has not been registered yet. "We have not yet come across any CCTV footage showing the police using batons to assault him... We had agreed to take his FIR over a scuffle but he has insisted that the FIR should be about assault with batons. Therefore, we are investigating the complaint first," Rathva said.
He also addressed why Jat was taken to the Sayajigunj traffic police station instead of the jurisdictional Raopura station. Rathva reasoned that the matter pertained to traffic violations and was escalating into a public nuisance, warranting the intervention of the ACP Traffic.
The police maintain that the situation could have been resolved had Jat cooperated. They emphasise that the available video evidence suggests he was not compliant with the law. The investigation into both the alleged assault on Jat and the charges against him is ongoing.
