Czech tourist held in Goa for carrying a 'bike computer', fined Rs 1,000

'The computer... had an in-built satellite transmitter. Travelling with satellite transmitters or satellite phones is prohibited in India,' Czech foreign ministry spokesman Daniel Drake said. (Representational image: Unsplash)

A Czech tourist has been detained and fined over the possession of a bike computer prohibited by a 1933 law, the Czech foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

According to police, Martin Polesny, 44, was about to travel to Doha from Manohar International Airport when a GPS GARMIN device-EDGE 540 was detected in his baggage. But he ended up in a cell for 12 hours after airport police found a Garmin Edge bike computer in his bag and could not produce any licence or permission from the competent authority, Herald Goa reported.

"The computer... had an in-built satellite transmitter. Travelling with satellite transmitters or satellite phones is prohibited in India," Czech foreign ministry spokesman Daniel Drake told AFP.

The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act from 1933 states that "no person shall possess wireless telegraphy apparatus except under and in accordance with a license issued under this Act".

The possession of a wireless transmitter "shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both," adds the law.

Drake said the man had travelled on a bike in India for 11 days without encountering any problems.

The Czech news agency CTK cited the man as saying he had pleaded guilty and paid a fine of 1,000 rupees ($12).

He was then released and allowed to leave the country. The police have however seized the bike computer, said Drake.

(With inputs from AFP)