Indore’s ‘Dancing Traffic Cop' Demoted For Sending Unsolicited Messages To Woman
Indore’s viral ‘dancing traffic cop’, who shot to internet fame after Anand Mahindra shared a video of him doing his job in full swag, has now landed in serious trouble. He allegedly sent unsolicited and inappropriate messages to a woman on social media. The policeman has now been demoted following a complaint from the lady. A probe has been ordered into the incident, and the cop has been attached to police lines.
Ranjeet Singh was a traffic head constable from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore. He, however, had a unique style of doing his duty. He used to turn each of his routine traffic duty into a performance. You would see him perform moonwalk-style dance moves as he controlled the traffic around.
Soon, videos of him dancing, smiling, and using hand gestures creatively while controlling traffic surfaced online. These went viral in no time, earning him praise for doing his job with such passion and joy. Even Anand Mahindra came to notice one of those videos and retweeted it on his X (previously Twitter) handle, calling it an example of how no job is boring if done with passion.
Traffic policemen are usually seen stressed on duty in most cities. We can’t really blame them for the same, considering how terrible traffic has become these days. And then there was this cop who seemed to enjoy each of his work days. This made the internet like him. Soon, his videos racked up views, and he gained followers online. Netizens showered his videos with positive remarks and comments, and many even got inspired by him.
The narrative changed after a young woman posted a video on social media accusing Singh of sending her unsolicited and undesirable messages. The lady, identified as Radhika Singh, is also an influencer. According to her claim, the interaction began when Singh commented on one of her social media stories. She thanked him, assuming the exchange had ended.
A month later, she alleged that Singh sent her multiple messages, asking her to be friends with him and, furthermore, to visit Indore and meet him. Going by the claims, he even offered to book her flight tickets and hotel stay. When questioned, he reportedly said it was “because of friendship.”
Image: Screenshots shared by Radhika Singh
To back her claims, the influencer even put out screenshots of messages she received from the ‘Dancing Cop’. She called his behaviour inappropriate.
The allegations raised by the female influencer were serious. The cop initially denied these and claimed that the woman was trying to gain online fame using his name. He reiterated that his only focus has always been spreading awareness about traffic rules, and made polite appeals for public support.
Ranjeet Singh was soon removed from duty and attached to the line. The investigation into the case was handed over to the Headquarters DCP. In the most recent development, Singh has been demoted to a constable from the previous head constable role.
The Indore Police Commissionerate has reportedly found out that the cop’s behaviour was a violation of the code of conduct under the MP Civil Services Rules and the MP Police Regulation Act. This has led to the action.
This incident has raised serious concerns about personal conduct and professional boundaries within the police department. The demotion, in a way, has revamped the public’s trust in the department and system. Findings from the ongoing investigation will decide the cop’s future and further action(s) against him.