No body camera, no challan: Gurugram traffic police get strict new rules after the ‘Diwali gift’ video

Updated 12 November 2026

If a Gurugram traffic cop stops you, the camera should already be rolling. Gurugram Police have told traffic personnel that challans must be issued only while a body-worn camera is recording, and that officers who stop vehicles without one will face action. The order is part of an anti-corruption push that also brings random transfers every 60 days, Amar Ujala and Aaj Tak reported on 10 and 11 November.

What the new rules say

According to Hindi media reports, the Gurugram Police Commissioner has issued these directions:

• Body cameras for every challan: stopping a vehicle or issuing a challan without a working body camera can lead to departmental action, Royal Bulletin reported.
• Random transfers every 60 days: a computerised system will move traffic police and home guards between points, so no one stays at the same spot long enough to build local links.
• Supervisors on the hook: zonal officers and traffic inspectors will be answerable if staff under them are caught in wrongdoing.
• Eyes in the control room: ACP-rank officers will watch CCTV feeds from the police control room.

Police have called it a zero-tolerance policy that protects both drivers and officers, since recordings settle disputes over what was said at a checkpoint.

Why now: the ‘Diwali gift’ video

The push followed a video from 7 November near Cyber Hub, in which a home guard allegedly asked a vlogger’s family for ‘Diwali gifts’ during a vehicle check. An FIR was filed at the DLF Phase-3 police station and the home guard was arrested, PTI reported on 9 November. The video spread quickly on social media and drew sharp reactions from residents.

Is this new? Not entirely

Gurugram traffic police have had body cameras since 2016, and an order earlier this year already told challan staff to wear them. What changes now is enforcement: no camera means no challan, and there are consequences for skipping it. In Delhi, traffic police were given 626 body cameras back in 2019 after the amended Motor Vehicles Act brought much higher fines.

What drivers should know

• Look for the camera: it is usually clipped to the chest or shoulder. You can politely ask whether it is recording.
• Ask for an e-challan: challans in Gurugram are issued electronically, and you can check and pay them on the official Parivahan e-challan website.
• Never pay cash on the spot without a proper receipt or e-challan.
• Report misconduct: note the time, place and officer’s name, and contact Gurugram Police on their official helpline or social media accounts.

The reports do not say whether drivers can ask to see the footage or how long recordings are kept. We will update this page if the police publish those details.

Will it work?

Body cameras have helped other forces cut complaints and disputes, but they work only if officers keep them on and supervisors actually check the footage. The 60-day transfers may be the bigger change, since they make it harder for anyone to settle into a regular point. The real test will be whether complaints from drivers fall over the next few months.

Frequently asked questions

Can Gurugram traffic police issue a challan without a body camera?

Under the new directions, no. Challans should be issued only while a body camera is recording.

How often will traffic police be transferred?

Every 60 days, through a random computerised system.

Questions to think about

• Should drivers have the right to get a copy of body-camera footage of their own stop?
• Would the same rules help in Delhi, Noida and other cities?
• Do frequent transfers risk losing officers who know an area well?