When on one side Delhi’s pollution shows no signs of easing, Gurugram is fining even EVs in a bizarre move. A Tata Curvv EV, an all-electric car with zero tailpipe emissions, was slapped with a ₹10,000 fine by Haryana Police for “violating air pollution standards” due to lacking a Pollution Under Control certificate.
The challan wasn't just for pollution. The owner received a total penalty of Rs 12,000. While Rs 2,000 was for a speeding violation (which is valid), the remaining Rs 10,000 was specifically levied for the lack of a PUC certificate, shocking netizens who labeled it "daylight robbery".
The incident surfaced when X (formerly Twitter) user Rattan Dhillon (@ShivrattanDhil1) shared a photo of the e-challan, highlighting the absurdity with the caption: "Incredible India indeed," underscoring the irony of penalising a vehicle without an exhaust for lacking a pollution certificate.
At the centre of the controversy is a white Tata Curvv EV. As a fully electric SUV, it is legally exempt from carrying a PUC certificate under India’s Central Motor Vehicle Rules, since it produces zero emissions.
Experts suggest the fine was likely a result of a glitch in the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. With GRAP-4 anti-pollution measures strictly enforced across Delhi-NCR, including hefty penalties for older fuel vehicles, automated cameras may have mistakenly flagged the EV without checking its actual fuel type in the database.
This is not a unique occurrence. In 2022, a person in Kerala who owned an Ather electric scooter was also penalized Rs 250 for failing to present a pollution certificate, highlighting that India's automated traffic systems continue to have difficulty distinguishing between electric vehicles and those with internal combustion engines.