THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sources say that the motor vehicles department’s operation screen which was meant for removing the curtains and glass films in vehicles was halted due to pressure from high officials. The transport commissioner asked other officials in the department to stop the operation via a WhatsApp message. He has justified that the scrutiny was meant for only two days and a maximum penalty was imposed on the vehicles.

Within five days of the operation, 5,000 vehicles were penalised. Ministers and other high officials were forced to remove the curtains. Whereas certain IAS officers are still using curtains in their vehicles violating the motor vehicles act. The officials have given the names of such officers to the transport commissioner. In the WhatsApp message, it is said that no penal actions should be taken from Saturday and only other traffic violations need to be penalised. The road safety month will also begin from Saturday. Motor vehicles department got Rs 62,50,000 for using cooling film and curtain.

The scrutiny held throughout the state on Sunday. Hundreds of vehicles were penalised via road checking, through cameras and even by issuing e-challans. Except for the Z category, all other passenger vehicles were penalised. Curtains were also removed for ministers and other staff in the secretariat.