Hyderabad SI suspended after letting six-year-old granddaughter drive, claims he was preparing her for Guinness World Record

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Video shows the child behind the wheel on the busy Gandhamguda–Bairagiguda road as traffic piles up behind the car; the vehicle already had six pending traffic challans worth ₹3,800

Updated - July 13, 2026 02:19 am IST - HYDERABAD

SI Pujari Tirupathi along with his granddaughter | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

A Hyderabad Police Sub-Inspector was booked after allowing his six-year-old granddaughter to drive a car on the busy Gandhamguda–Bairagiguda road in Narsingi, with the officer claiming he was preparing her for a Guinness World Records attempt as the world’s youngest driver.

Following the incident, the Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand directed the Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh to suspend the accused SI and initiate a departmental inquiry into the matter.

The accused, Pujari Tirupathi, is an SI-rank officer attached to the Hyderabad City Police and is currently in the Vacancy Reserve. The incident, which was reported around 5 p.m. on Saturday, came to light after a video showing the child behind the wheel while the officer occupied the front passenger seat went viral on social media platforms.

The footage showed a line of vehicles honking behind the car as traffic slowed on the busy stretch. According to the police, the incident caused a brief traffic hold-up and triggered widespread criticism from motorists and social media users, many of whom demanded action against the officer.

Traffic piles up on the busy Gandhamguda–Bairagiguda road in Narsingi. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

When commuters stopped the vehicle and confronted the officer, he defended his actions, stating that the car was an automatic vehicle and that he remained in control of the vehicle. Speaking to The Hindu, Narsingi Police Inspector G. Hari Krishna Reddy said the officer claimed he was training his granddaughter in preparation for a Guinness World Records attempt to make her the youngest driver.

The car in question, bearing registration number ‘TS 07 GP 7450’ and registered in Tirupathi’s name, already had six pending traffic violations with unpaid challans amounting to ₹3,800. Four challans were issued in Mahbubnagar and two in Hyderabad.

A case has been registered against the officer under Section 125 (endangering life of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 184 (dangerous driving) and 180 (allowing unauthorised persons to drive vehicles)of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Police said a notice would be served to the accused. Under the law, the vehicle’s registration is suspended for 12 months, while the juvenile will be ineligible to obtain a driving licence until attaining the age of 25 years. The registered owner who permits a minor to drive may also face a fine and imprisonment of up to one year.

Published - July 12, 2026 08:15 pm IST

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