Panchkula, Oct. 8 -- Dramatic scenes played out in Panchkula's Sector 14 and nearby residential areas on Tuesday night as deputy commissioner of police (DCP, traffic) Amrinder Singh chased down a car flashing a red-blue beacon and impounded it. The driver was later issued a Rs.30,000 for multiple traffic violations.

To be sure, the use of red and blue beacons is strictly controlled in the country. In a move to end VIP culture, the Supreme Court had in 2013 prohibited politicians, bureaucrats and even judges from using these lights on their vehicles. Such lights are only allowed on emergency and disaster management vehicles such as police cars, fire engines, ambulances, and defence and paramilitary vehicles.

DCP Singh said that he had sp...