A brazen display of VIP arrogance and defiance of the Supreme Court of India. A black Mercedes-Benz sedan bearing registration DL1CAB1111 was seen bulldozing its way through Delhi traffic, accompanied by a black Scorpio brazenly displaying “POLICE” and “ESCORT” in red lettering, blaring a siren, with armed personnel forcing ordinary motorists out of the way. Who is this individual? Who authorised this private show of State power? And under whose authority were armed men clearing public roads for him? In Abhay Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (2013) 15 SCC 435, the Supreme Court, speaking through Justices G.S. Singhvi and C. Nagappan, condemned precisely this culture of manufactured privilege, describing the abuse of sirens and symbols of authority as reflective of “Raj Mentality” and antithetical to the concept of a Republic. The Court expressly directed enforcement authorities to act “without any fear or favour.” The law was further tightened in 2017, restricting vehicular beacons to designated emergency and disaster-management duties. Will the Commissioner of Delhi Police identify the occupants, disclose the legal authority for this escort, and initiate prosecution if these privileges were unlawfully exercised? Or will the Supreme Court’s directions remain meaningless whenever a wealthy private individual decides that public roads are his personal estate? If this was not a lawfully authorised police operation, it demands immediate investigation, seizure of evidence and prosecution of those responsible. How much longer must ordinary citizens tolerate this vulgar, feudal VIP culture? Money does not confer constitutional status. And Delhi’s roads are not the private property of businessmen with delusions of royalty. @DelhiPolice @CPDelhi