Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath asks Bengaluru traffic commissioners if VIPs are above traffic rules, gets THIS answer

Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath recently had a candid and free-wheeling interaction with two senior Bengaluru police officials on the city's traffic woes. In his latest podcast, which featured Bengaluru Commissioner of Police B Dayananda and Joint Commissioner of Police MN Anucheth, the billionaire entrepreneur raised the issue of VIP culture on the city's roads and asked them whether these “VIPs are above traffic rules”.

During the frank discussion, Nikhil Kamath asked senior IPS officer Dayananda, “Do police fine politicians when they break a (traffic) signal?”

Replying to the query, Dayananda said, "No … Generally, they give the green signal there…they get the green and go."

"Generally, when a VVIP convoy is moving, that is the chief minister or the governor, we ensure that the corridor is kept free for their movement," he noted.

On VIPs breaking traffic rules

On being asked if it's right for VIPs to break lines or violate traffic rules, Dayananda replied, “I would rephrase the question as whether they should enjoy this preferential movement. For a person holding the position of chief minister, or even the governor or the prime minister, it becomes all the more necessary.”

"It's not a matter of, you know, a show-off kind of a thing, but it becomes a matter of necessity; he has to move. Plus, security concerns also matter. Most of these individuals have a high security threat perception. From that perspective also, it has to be ensured that they get free movement. Otherwise, en route, something can happen," he added.

Are there too many people with that privilege?

Following this, Nikhil Kamath questioned if there were too many people with that privilege.

To this, MN Anucheth said, “No, it's on the constitutional post. So basically, the security arrangements or schemes are done as per the position occupied by the individual. So, depending on that, even in Bangalore, it's not that everybody gets that preferential treatment. It's just that there are many positions in our government which require that kind of a security scheme, which requires priority signalling or preferential signalling.”

Later, when asked if they preferred lesser people to receive this preferential treatment, both traffic commissioners said in one voice, "Yes, the lesser, the better."