Hyderabad: A software employee Nagabhushan Reddy, who was caught by police for drunken driving at Tadbund Cross-roads on New Year’s Eve, strongly refuted the charge. The breathalyser reported Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels of 77. The 32-year-old techie argued that he had not consumed alcohol and that the breathalyser report was incorrect. .
When the police showed no signs of accepting his argument Mr Reddy, whose vehicle had been seized, caught an auto and rushed to Gandhi Hospital where he underwent a blood test. The test did not show the presence of alcohol. This report was produced before the traffic cops on January 1 and has not been cross-verified yet. This is the second case of alleged malfunctioning of the breathalyzer equipment.
Nagabhushan Reddy told this newspaper: “The cops intercepted my bike at Tadbund junction. As part of the usual procedure, I was made to breathe into the breathalyzer pipe. The reading showed 77. This shocked me as I had not consumed alcohol. The cops immediately confiscated my bike, I argued for an hour but they didn’t want to hear me. I then took an auto and went to Gandhi Hospital, where the blood test revealed no signs of alcohol intoxication.”
The doctor’s report (a copy of which is in the possession of this newspaper), says: ‘As per clinical examination, the person has not consumed alcohol and is not under the influence of alcohol’.
Asked to account for the discrepancy, a senior officer of the Trimulgherry traffic team, said: “The breathalyser is the latest gadget and its functioning is beyond doubt. A team will cross examine the medical report issued by Casualty Medical Officer at Gandhi Hospital before a decision is taken.”
On an earlier occasion, one Syed Zaheeruddin Qadri, checked by the Sultan Bazar Police, refuted the BAC report. He went to Osmania General and got himself examined. OGH issued a medical certificate saying that he was not in a drunken condition.
