Malad resident fined for two-wheeler ride from 2023 on a car bought only in 2025, raising questions over e-challan checks
The e-challan details show the offence occurred in 2023. The car was bought in 2025
A Kandivli family was left shocked after receiving an e-challan for a traffic offence allegedly committed in 2023 on a Mahindra XUV they bought only in February 2025, exposing glaring gaps in the city’s e-challan verification system. The car owner, Rajesh Yadav, a school principal from Malad, received an e-challan message on his registered mobile number in October this year. The message informed him that a fine of Rs 500 had been imposed for driving without wearing a helmet.
The image with the challan shows a two-wheeler rider without a helmet, not the complainant’s car. Pics/By Samiullah Khan
On checking the details, Yadav was stunned to find that the challan was dated June 2023, nearly two years before his family had even purchased the Mahindra XUV. “For a moment, I wondered if there was a new rule asking car drivers to wear helmets,” he said. However, when Yadav opened the photograph attached to the challan, it clearly showed a motorcycle with two riders, neither wearing helmets. The vehicle in the image was not his car.
Rajesh Yadav, who was issued the erroneous e-challan against his car for a helmet violation
Yadav said his family purchased the XUV on February 14, 2025. He added that while driving his mother to Bombay Hospital via the Coastal Road in August, he had received two overspeeding challans, which he promptly paid. But the helmet violation challan, received later in October, was both incorrect and dated much before the vehicle was even registered in his name.
“How can a helmet offence meant for a two-wheeler be issued against a car? At the very least, officials should verify whether the vehicle is a bike or a four-wheeler before sending a challan,” Yadav said. He has not paid the fine and said he will respond only after receiving an official clarification.
Rajesh Yadav shows the erroneous e-challan issued against his car for a helmet violation
A traffic department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the challan was originally generated for a two-wheeler rider who violated traffic rules. Due to a similarity in vehicle registration numbers, the challan was mistakenly sent to Yadav’s registered mobile number. The official termed it a human error and said the challan can be cancelled by filing a grievance through the MTP app using the registered mobile number.
Timeline at a glance
>> Date of alleged offence: June 5, 2023
>> Date of car purchase: February 14, 2025
>> Date challan received: October 21, 2025
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