Archive · 4 Oct 2026
India’s Bizarre Headlines: AI Challan, Spider-Man and Forest MoU
Several unusual stories have been reported from different parts of India.
In Bengaluru, a traffic camera treated a guitar on a rider’s back as a passenger without a helmet.
In Kolkata, a person dressed as Spider-Man was seen around workshops where Durga idols are made.
In Ranchi, a monkey drank vodka inside a shop and fell asleep.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak suggested that young people could earn money by driving e-rickshaws.
Some people criticized the suggestion because the state had also promised to provide many jobs.
In Bihar, the forest department agreed to help with a highway project that needs forest clearances.
After questions were raised about that role, an official said the agreement would be withdrawn.
A Bengaluru traffic camera mistook a guitar on a helmeted rider’s back for a helmetless pillion and issued his wife a Rs 500 challan.
A Spider-Man dressed in traditional clothes was filmed around Kolkata’s Kumartuli, where social media users dubbed him “Peter Sarkar” and “Spider-Kaka.”
A monkey entered a liquor shop at Ormanjhi Chowk in Ranchi, drank nearly half a bottle of vodka and passed out; locals said it had previously licked liquor leftovers.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak advised young people to consider driving e-rickshaws rather than focusing only on finding jobs, drawing criticism amid the state’s job pledges.
Bihar’s forest department signed an MoU to help advance clearances for widening a highway through forest land, then said the agreement would be withdrawn after questions about its role.
- Who
- People involved include a Bengaluru two-wheeler rider and his wife, a Spider-Man-costumed person in Kolkata, a monkey in Ranchi, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, and Bihar government departments.
- What
- Reports describe a mistaken traffic challan, a costumed figure in Kumartuli, a monkey drinking vodka, comments about e-rickshaw work, and a forest department agreement linked to a highway project.
- When
- The rider’s trip was on September 15; Pathak spoke on September 23; the MoU and the rider’s social media post were dated September 26. Dates for the other incidents were not specified.
- Where
- Bengaluru; Kumartuli in Kolkata; Ormanjhi Chowk in Ranchi; Lucknow; and a forest stretch on National Highway 333 in Munger district, Bihar.
- Why
- The MoU was intended to support widening and strengthening a highway; Pathak was advocating self-employment through taxi driving. The other stories describe reported incidents without establishing a broader reason.
Supporters’ stated rationale
Criticism and concerns
E-rickshaw work and employment
Supporters’ stated rationale
Pathak reportedly presented taxi driving as self-employment that could provide income while leaving more time for family.
Criticism and concerns
His remarks drew criticism because they came shortly after the chief minister handed appointment letters to more than 3,000 candidates and pledged one lakh jobs in six months.
Forest department’s role in the highway project
Supporters’ stated rationale
The MoU said the forest department would cooperate in processing the clearances and comply with conditions set by competent authorities.
Criticism and concerns
The arrangement raised questions because the department responsible for forests was also agreeing to help secure approvals for a project requiring forest land; an official then said the MoU would be withdrawn.
- Bengaluru challan
- Rs 500, issued to the rider’s wife for “pillion riding without helmet.”
- Rider’s account
- He said he was riding alone, wearing a helmet, with a guitar strapped to his back.
- Kumartuli nickname
- Social media users called the Spider-Man-costumed person “Peter Sarkar” and “Spider-Kaka.”
- Ranchi incident
- The monkey reportedly drank nearly half a bottle of vodka before passing out inside the shop.
- Pathak’s remarks
- He spoke at the launch of Bharat Taxi in Lucknow on September 23 and suggested driving an e-rickshaw as self-employment.
- Highway project
- The proposed work would widen a 10.5-kilometre stretch of National Highway 333 through Gangata forest.
- Forest clearance
- The project requires 2.1 hectares of forest land from Bhimband Wildlife Sanctuary; the portal status was reported as “Pending at State.”
- MoU response
- After questions about the forest department’s role, Singh said the MoU was being withdrawn.