Officer faces flak on Facebook for horns used in his official car

Kochi: Fort Kochi sub-collector Suhas Shivanna was dragged into a controversy on Friday after some Facebook users blamed him for allegedly using banned horns in his official vehicle. The young IAS officer shared a photo of him posing with a brand new SUV, his official car on Facebook.

An NRI, Anoobis Bhaskaran, pointed out that the official was using an air horn to which Suhas Shivanna replied, "I will use what I want to," which irked the users.

Interestingly, Mr Shivanna clarified that the horn shown in the picture was not an air horn and in fact a decorative piece. The photo was posted on his Facebook profile.

Mr Bhaskaran later shared the screen shot of the comment made by the sub-collector on Netizen Police an official Facebook page of Kerala Police.

The keyboard warriors later dissected the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, and discussed whether a bureaucrat can use a horn or not. "The sub collector is not supposed to decorate official car with tax payers’ fund. It is an official vehicle, not a private one. As per the data provided by the Motor Vehicle Department, RC owner is district collector," his post said.

Mr Shivanna said some users were unnecessarily dragging him into an issue. "What I meant was ‘I can do anything as per the law’,” he told DC. “I follow the law and I haven’t used any unnecessary horns”. He also clarified that a top cop called him to verify the matter. Police interfered after Mr Bhaskaran shared the post on Netizen police.