Haryana DGP’s Bizarre Statement: Notorious People Drive Thar, Ride Bullet
Haryana’s Director General of Police, OP Singh, has stirred up controversy after suggesting that people who drive Mahindra Thar SUVs or ride Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles are often “rogue elements.” His remarks, made during a press briefing in Gurugram, linked certain vehicle choices to unruly behaviour and sparked widespread debate online.
Speaking to reporters, Singh explained that police officers do not stop every vehicle during routine checks, but some vehicle models - like the Mahindra Thar and Royal Enfield Bullet - attract immediate attention. “We don’t check all vehicles. But if it’s a Thar, how can we let it go? Or if it’s a Bullet, all notorious elements use such cars and bikes,” he said in Hindi.
Singh recounted a case where an assistant commissioner’s son ran over someone while driving a Thar. When the father sought leniency, Singh said police asked whose name the vehicle was registered under. “It’s in his name, so he is the rogue element,” he quipped.
He also joked with fellow officers, asking how many of them owned Thars. “Whoever has it must be crazy,” he said, adding that the SUV had become a “statement of personality” - a vehicle that signals aggression and defiance.
Singh’s comments came as Haryana Police introduced a new rule holding bars and restaurants accountable if patrons drive drunk. Under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, establishments serving alcohol must monitor how much customers drink, stop them from driving when intoxicated, and arrange transport if necessary.
According to official data, 345 people have died and more than 580 have been injured in road accidents involving drunk or speeding drivers in recent months. Bars now must post warnings about drunk driving and can face liquor licence suspension or criminal charges if found negligent.
Gurugram Police Commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora confirmed that notices have been sent to outlets in Cyber Hub, MG Road, and Golf Course Road, all areas with high late-night traffic. Police plan to increase breath tests and vehicle checks in these zones.
The Thar’s mention by the DGP appears to stem from recent accidents involving the SUV. In one case, a speeding Thar crashed into a divider near Exit 9 on National Highway 48, killing five of its six occupants.
CCTV footage showed the vehicle travelling at over 100 km/h before losing control. Police later recovered wristbands from a nightclub on the victims, suggesting they had been drinking.
In another case in Chandigarh, two sisters were hit by a black Thar while waiting for an auto rickshaw. The elder died on the spot; the younger was seriously injured. The driver fled and remains untraced. A separate crash in Delhi’s Moti Nagar killed a motorcyclist after a Thar rammed into him, crushing the bike between the SUV and a truck. Two alcohol bottles were found inside the vehicle, and the driver absconded.
The Mahindra Thar, is known for its off-road capability and rugged design. It features a ladder-frame chassis, four-wheel drive, 1.5-litre and 2.2 litre turbo diesel, and 2 liter turbo petrol engines with manual or automatic transmission. It earned a four-star Global NCAP safety rating in 2021, though the agency noted some unstable behaviour during dynamic testing.
Despite its genuine off-road ability, the Thar has often been seen in viral videos showing stunts, wheel spins, and rash driving. Its boxy looks and strong presence have made it a status symbol for many young drivers, which has contributed to concerns about reckless use.
Singh also mentioned Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles in his remarks, sparking a mixed reaction online. Many questioned whether the bike deserved to be lumped into the same category. “How many crimes have been committed using a Bullet? I never heard of one being used for chain snatching or murder,” one user wrote. Others agreed with the DGP, saying the loud exhausts and stunts done by some riders justified stricter checks.
Social media users were split. Some applauded Singh for calling out what they see as an emerging culture of road hooliganism tied to “show-off” vehicles. Others argued that the police should focus on poor road design, overloaded trucks, and weak enforcement rather than stereotyping vehicle owners.
Meanwhile, Gurugram Traffic Police is expanding a real-time road safety initiative with Google Maps, covering 129 major roads. Drivers are now alerted to accident-prone areas and speed limits through pop-ups on the navigation app. Authorities hope this will reduce accidents, particularly on NH-48, Dwarka Expressway, Sohna Road, and Golf Course Extension Road, all known for frequent speeding and drunk driving incidents.
Singh’s comments, part serious and part tongue-in-cheek, have clearly touched a raw nerve. While the debate continues, his statement underscores a deeper frustration within law enforcement about reckless driving linked to lifestyle vehicles, and how difficult it has become to curb it.