OP Singh, Haryana DGP, claimed Mahindra Thar drivers often engage in stunts and reckless acts, linking the vehicle to rising traffic violations and safety concerns in the state.
OP Singh, the Director General of Police for Haryana, stirred controversy when he asserted that individuals driving a Mahindra Thar are likely engaging in reckless behaviour. He made these remarks while outlining traffic-enforcement protocols and emphasising the visibility of certain vehicles to police teams.
Speaking to the press, Singh said:
“If it’s a Thar, how can we let it go? … People who drive Thars perform stunts on the road.”
He went on to suggest that the vehicle is treated as a symbolic choice rather than simply a mode of transport:
“The Thar is not a car, it’s a statement which says ‘this is how I am’.”
Singh pointed to recent incidents of dangerous driving and stunts involving Thars—such as passengers riding on roof racks or standing on sideboards—linking these behaviours with the vehicle’s image among some young drivers.