Pradeep Tiwari was fined $450 after admitting to not properly restraining his child while driving, after more serious charges, including dangerous driving and not wearing a seatbelt, were dropped.
The case stems from a traffic incident in June 2024 on CityLink in Melbourne, where a witness claimed to have observed a small child sitting in the driver’s lap while the vehicle travelled at approximately 80 km/h. Victoria Police prosecutor originally made Tiwari face three charges: dangerous driving, using a portable device while driving, and failing to ensure a passenger was not in the same seat as the driver.
However, in court prosecutors accepted a negotiated plea to a single charge: failing to ensure the child was appropriately seated. The magistrate laughed at the prosecutor’s claim that the Victoria Police was unable to locate Pradeep Tiwari, the Maribyrnong Mayor, to serve the notice for the court proceedings.
The Magistrate also noted that for any other member of the community, this would have been a straightforward fine without the need to come to court. Mayor Tiwari told The Australia Today that this case was result of him being targeted by a section of Victoria Police officers for his crusade against crime in his council area.
The decision did more than settle a court case, it reopened deeper tensions in Maribyrnong’s Indian-Australian community, revived questions about race and policing, and sparked conversations about accountability in public life.
Voices from the neighbourhood
Across Dulwich Hill, Footscray, and the suburbs of Melbourne’s west, many Indian-Australians have watched Tiwari’s ordeal unfold with pain, frustration and a sense of déjà vu.
One longtime resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:
“He’s always stood up for our area — for safety, for crime prevention. Seeing him dragged into court for this … it just feels like something deeper is playing out.”
A community elder, Surjan Prasad Singh, at a temple gathering, described how social media messages targeting Tiwari had quickly escalated beyond criticism of driving errors:
“They were mocking his name, his accent, his skin. We’ve seen this before — it’s emotional warfare disguised as news.”
Another councillor in one of the western city councils (She doesn’t want to be named) noted that many small ethnic organisations in Maribyrnong had quietly expressed solidarity with Tiwari, seeing his struggle as emblematic of a broader feeling: that minority representatives are judged more harshly — both legally and in public opinion.
Political undercurrents and council responses
Tiwari’s decision to temporarily step aside from his mayoral and councillor duties in August followed procedural rules under the Local Government Act 2020. The council released a brief statement acknowledging the personal nature of the matter and confirming that Deputy Mayor Bernadette Thomas would serve as acting mayor in the interim
When stepping aside, Tiwari also addressed the online vitriol directed at him. He condemned the racist remarks targeting his Indian heritage and questioned why the “entire Indian community” was being mocked in response to a personal legal matter.
These remarks reignited a long-standing debate in local politics about whether cultural and racial biases can influence how minority politicians are portrayed and treated by the media and authorities. He accused sections of Victoria Police of launching a “witch hunt” against him due to his outspoken campaign against crime in his council area.
While the legal outcome has now largely concluded with the fine, other consequences remain unsettled:
- Trust in public institutions: For many, this case will test whether courts, police and local government treat all at the same standard — or whether public figures from minority backgrounds face added pressures.
- Electoral and symbolic representation: Tiwari was the first mayor of Indian heritage in Victoria. His tenure has been watched symbolically by many in the Indian diaspora. Any diminished public standing or controversy has ripple effects in how minority communities perceive civic engagement.
- Media accountability: Tiwari’s accusations against sections of the media for inaccuracies have reignited how journalists and outlets cover minority public officials — whether with fair scrutiny or sensational framing.
- Future civic voices: If minority representatives believe their efforts may lead to disproportionate scrutiny or racial backlash, some may be discouraged from public service. This case could discourage future candidates from stepping into the public arena.
Going forward
Tiwari has returned to his mayoral duties as of October 2025, having served the fine and with other charges dropped.
The public and media will now watch closely:
- How Tiwari navigates public relations and community reconciliation, especially in Indian-Australian circles.
- Whether he uses his platform to advocate for stronger protections against racially charged commentary in public discourse.
- How the council, state police, and media reflect on this case in future dealings with minority community leaders.
In the end, while a $450 fine may seem small in the legal ledger, the social ledger is far more complex. The trial that matters most is not just in the courtroom — it’s in the court of community trust, media balance, and the lived experience of minority leadership in Australian civic life.
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