Dealers fear no police & law; crackdown against them next to null

Visuals of several bike modification shops in Bhopal

While the Bhopal police have always maintained their crackdown against modified vehicles shuttling across the city, and have come down heavily on the owners of such vehicles, the shops brazenly selling modified accessories for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers seem to have skipped their sight.

Areas in old Bhopal boast of hundreds of such shops and workshops, where getting the vehicles modified is a piece of cake for the people. More worrisome is the fact that while crackdown continues on modified vehicles’ owners, there has been no action against the people running such shops.

Bike modification underway at a shop in Bhopal

Bhaskar English’s visit to shops unveils lack of fear among dealers

In light of the issue, the Bhaskar English representative visited three key shops, which are known in Bhopal for vehicle modifications. The visit and the conversation of the representative with the owners of the shop revealed that they do not care even two hoots about police action.

Spot #1: Reliable Graphics, located in Bhopal’s Peer Gate area

The shop named Reliable Graphics, located near Imami Gate in old Bhopal’s Peer Gate area, is the most preferred destination for people who want to get their respective vehicle modified, the Bhaskar English representative learnt through sources.

The reporter visited the shop posing as a decoy customer, and stumbled upon the shop owner, who identified himself as Syed Mohnish. The representative sought the variants of modified exhaust systems for his bike, and Mohnish shared the catalogue of all modifications available at his shop.

Modified accessories being sold at Reliable Graphics

A huge variety of modified exhaust systems, especially for Royal Enfield bullet bikes, was available with the owner. Moreover, other modified accessories such as horns, fog lamps, crash guards, frame sliders and engine guards were also lodged there.

When the representative questioned Mohnish with regard to the possible police action that would be initiated against him for getting modified exhaust pipes installed, he admitted that as modified exhaust systems are banned, he does not keep them at his shop, and orders them online for customers, who pre-book them for installation. After a brief conversation that lasted for 5 minutes, the reporter left from there on the pretext of some urgent work.

Spot #2: BRC Customs. Location: Merely 100 metres away from Koh-e-fiza police station

The Bhaskar English reporter was tipped off about another prominent bike modification centre, named BRC customs, located in the Koh-e-fiza area of Bhopal. Ironically, this modification centre is operating brazenly just 100 metres away from the Koh-e-fiza police station.

Upon entering the shop by assuming the identity of a decoy customer, the representative saw two superbikes parked in its garage, which were lined up for modification. First, the reporter met a teenage boy working at the shop, and when he enquired about the availability of modified exhaust systems there, the boy called out to his superior, named Basheer Khan.

Visuals recorded furtively by the representative at BRC Customs

Basheer arrived at the shop, and showed dozens of modified exhaust systems displayed there to the reporter. The prices for the same ranged from as much as ₹15,000 to ₹35,000. When questioned about any possible police action after getting the loud exhaust systems installed, he (Basheer) said that the exhaust systems these days come laced with an accessory named “DB Killer,” which reduces the loud noise of the exhaust pipes and makes it ‘usable legally’.

Loud modified horns were also available there, which are not approved by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), and are liable for legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act. Meanwhile, the owner of the shop, identified as Karan Singh, was not found there during the investigation.

Spot #3: Star Galaxy. Location: Hamidia Road

The representative, upon arriving at the Star Galaxy accessories shop located at Bhopal’s Hamidia Road, saw similar other outlets located adjacent to it, which were also engaged in selling modified goods. The reporter landed in a conversation with the owner of the shop, who identified himself as Imran Khan.

Upon enquiring about modified exhaust pipes, Imran said that units as cheap as ₹5,000 and as costly as ₹95,000 are installed at his shop. He too responded to the police action against modified exhaust pipes by the “DB Killer” theory, which turns the modified loud exhaust’s rattle into a silent and a calmer one.

Modified exhaust pipes being sold brazenly at Star Galaxy Accessories shop at Bhopal’s Hamidia Road

Apart from modified silencers, sirens, loud horns, fog lamps and other illegal accessories were also spotted by the reporter, and were furtively filmed.

Traffic police chief apprised of the menace by reporter; he vows action

After filming the details of all the visits made to the spot by the reporter, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bhopal traffic department), Jitendra Singh Pawar, was approached at his office. The reporter submitted all the visual evidence to him too.

Commenting on the issue, he said,

Only 18 modified vehicles fell into police dragnet in 2024

The statistics provided to Bhaskar English by the city’s traffic police department revealed that in the year 2024, the cops cracked down on just 18 modified vehicles, while the modification menace is so high in Bhopal, that many altered vehicles are still going unnoticed by police. DCP Traffic also informed that the first-time offenders found to be driving/riding modified vehicles are levied a fine of ₹5,000, while the second-time offenders are slapped with a fine of ₹10,000.

What does the law say about the sale of modified vehicle accessories?

Notably, vehicle modifications are recognised as illegal under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, because the installation of loud exhaust systems and modified horns in bikes contributes significantly to sound pollution.

Moreover, only the installation of headlamps and fog lamps containing a capacity of 60kW is permissible. The headlamps and fog lamps, whose capacity exceeds 60kW turns the commuter(s) coming from the other side blinded, and often result in road accidents.

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the following actions can be taken against the people engaging in the sale of modified accessories.