After a drunk and drive check in Bengaluru, the traffic police register a case under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act and file it before a magistrate’s traffic court. Your vehicle stays at the traffic police station until you pay the fine the court imposes. So the main things you want to know are: has the case reached court, which court, and on what date.
There are three places to look: the eCourts case status, the virtual court for traffic cases, and the Parivahan e-challan portal. If none of them shows the case yet, the traffic police station that booked you is the place to ask.
For the fines, jail term and licence suspension rules, read our main guide on the drunk and drive case in Bengaluru.
What you need
- the slip or receipt the police gave you at the checkpoint
- the name of the traffic police station that booked you
- your vehicle registration number and driving licence number
- the mobile number linked to your vehicle on Vahan, since some searches send an OTP
Step 1: ask the traffic police station
The quickest way, especially in the first few days, is to call or visit the traffic police station that registered the case. Ask:
- whether the case has been sent to court, and to which court
- the case number or CNR number, if one has been given
- the date you should appear
Find the station through the Karnataka State Police site (ksp.karnataka.gov.in), which has a Police Station Locator, or the Bengaluru Traffic Police site. Station phone numbers change, so take them from the official site.
Step 2: check the virtual court
Karnataka has a virtual court for traffic cases. Some traffic cases are sent there so that an uncontested fine can be paid online without going to court.
- Open vcourts.gov.in.
- Select Karnataka and then Traffic Department.
- Search by challan or vehicle number, mobile number, CNR or party name.
- If your case is listed with an amount, you can choose to pay it there.
Not every drunk driving case goes to the virtual court. If yours is not there, it is probably before a physical traffic court.
Step 3: check eCourts
Once a case is registered in court, it gets a CNR number and appears on eCourts.
- Open services.ecourts.gov.in, or the eCourts Services app.
- If you have the CNR, use CNR Number search. It is 16 characters, and Bengaluru cases usually start with KABC.
- If not, use Case Status, select Karnataka and Bengaluru, choose the court complex, and search by party name (your name) and year.
The result shows the court, the stage of the case and the next hearing date.
Step 4: check Parivahan e-challan
On echallan.parivahan.gov.in, you can search by challan number, vehicle number or DL number. The site notes when a challan has been forwarded to the virtual court and warns you not to pay the same challan twice, at the court and on the portal. Use it to confirm whether there is anything pending against your vehicle. The Bengaluru Traffic Police also point people to their ASTraM app for fine payments.
What the status means and what to do
| What you find | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing anywhere | Case not yet filed in court | Ask the traffic station for the court and date |
| Listed on the virtual court with an amount | Fine can be paid online | Pay only if you accept the offence, and keep the receipt |
| On eCourts with a hearing date | Case before a traffic court | Appear on the date. Plead guilty and pay, or contest |
| Disposed | Fine paid or case closed | Take the receipt or order to the station for your vehicle |
After you pay: vehicle and licence
Take the court fine receipt, the vehicle’s RC and your ID proof to the traffic police station that seized the vehicle. The vehicle is generally released once the fine receipt is shown.
The licence suspension is a separate process at the RTO. The court case being closed does not mean the RTO proceedings are over. If you get a notice from the RTO, attend the hearing.
When to get a lawyer
If there was an accident, this is a repeat offence, the case has been posted for trial, or a warrant has been issued because you missed a date, speak to an advocate before you go. See our criminal lawyer in Bangalore page.
Questions people ask
How do I check my drunk and drive case status in Bangalore?
Ask the traffic police station that booked you, then search the virtual court (vcourts.gov.in, Karnataka, Traffic Department) and eCourts by vehicle number, CNR or your name.
Can I pay a drunk and drive fine online in Bangalore?
Only if the case is listed on the virtual court with an amount. Otherwise, the fine is imposed and paid in the traffic court.
How long after the drunk and drive check does the case go to court?
It varies. It can be a few days or longer. Keep checking with the station and on eCourts.
What if I miss the court date?
The court may issue a warrant. Contact the court or an advocate quickly to have the case listed again.
Talk to us about your matter
Call or WhatsApp to fix a time. Bring your papers to the office in Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
This article is general information about the law as it stood when it was written. Your facts change the answer. Speak to an advocate before you act on it.