What started as a flashy New Year celebration turned into a costly reality check for a young engineering student from Kerala. Hoping to gain viral fame on social media, the Kannur-based student ended up paying a traffic fine that exceeded the value of the car he was driving, all for a few reels.
The student had purchased a 2002 Honda City for around ₹70,000, transforming the ageing sedan into an eye-catching spectacle. The vehicle underwent several unauthorised modifications, including a complete colour change, altered mechanical parts, graffiti branding reading “Banger”, and a tampered exhaust system.
The most dangerous alteration, however, was the fire-spitting exhaust, designed to emit flames, a feature that is strictly illegal under Indian motor vehicle laws due to fire and road safety risks.
Viral reels trigger public complaints
To ring in the New Year, the student drove the modified car into Bengaluru, where he posted multiple Instagram reels showing the vehicle roaring through city roads, bursting flames from its exhaust and performing risky manoeuvres.
While the videos gained online attention, they also alarmed residents. Several commuters and locals filed complaints, citing excessive noise, public nuisance, and safety hazards.
Police track down vehicle in north bengaluru
Responding to the complaints, Bengaluru Traffic Police traced the car to Bhartiya City in northeast Bengaluru. Officers confirmed that the vehicle violated multiple traffic and motor vehicle regulations.
“Apart from unbearable noise, flames were shooting out of the exhaust, posing a serious fire risk to the public,” a traffic police officer said.
RTO inspection leads to heavy penalty
Following the seizure, the Yelahanka Regional Transport Office (RTO) conducted a detailed inspection. The vehicle was found to have multiple violations, including:
-Illegal exhaust modification
-Unauthorised structural changes
-Colour alteration without approval
-Unsafe mechanical alterations
The cumulative penalty came to ₹1.1 lakh, far more than the car’s original purchase price. The student paid the fine and was strictly warned against repeating such stunts.
Ironically, police noted that the same vehicle had reportedly been driven in Kerala for over a year without action, highlighting stricter enforcement in Karnataka.
“For the sake of social media reels, he ended up spending more on fines than on buying the car,” an officer remarked wryly.
Authorities reiterated that vehicle modifications without RTO approval are illegal, especially those affecting safety, emissions, and noise levels. Fire-emitting exhausts are particularly dangerous and can lead to vehicle seizure, licence suspension, and heavy penalties.
