New Delhi: An organised rally of luxury cars by students of Class 12 from Fountainhead School in Surat has invited a lot of controversy and a police investigation, following reports of reckless driving and traffic violations.
The rally was supposed to be a farewell celebration with around 30 high-end cars, including BMWs, Mercedes, and Skodas. Instead of a simple get-together, the event turned into a high-speed parade, with students performing dangerous stunts like hanging out of sunroofs and blocking traffic. Videos of the rally went viral on social media, raising concerns about road safety and breaking traffic laws.
The students started their unapproved rally from D-Mart in Rander and sped through the city before reaching Fountainhead School in Olpad via Dandi Road. Their reckless driving disrupted traffic and put others at risk. Students hadn’t taken any permission, and the police were unaware of it.
Surat Police are now investigating by identifying the cars from their registration numbers. They have also asked the school administration for an explanation and plan to act under the Motor Vehicles Act. DCP Amita Vanani assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible.
Fountainhead School, however, claims they had nothing to do with the rally. The administration said that parents and students brought the luxury cars on their own, even though the school had arranged a bus for the farewell, which was not used. The school also stated that cars were not allowed inside the campus.
So far, the police have impounded 12 out of these luxury cars and are working to impound the rest, some of which had already managed to leave the city. Authorities have decided not to take strict action against the students immediately as they do not want their mental state to be affected in these times before the board exams.
The District Education Officer (DEO), Dr. Bhagirathsingh Parmar, has stepped in and issued a notice to the school, demanding a response within two days. He reminded all schools to ensure that students and parents follow traffic rules for such events. If the school is found negligent, it could face penalties or even lose its recognition.
The school administration insists that they had informed parents via email about the bus arrangement and had specifically asked students not to bring private cars, even if they had driving licenses. They strongly disapproved of the students’ actions and the lack of discipline. Meanwhile, the Pal Police have identified 26 of the cars involved, with some still outside the city.