Couple allege drunk cops harassed them while they watched video in car in Malad
Woman complains to CP Maria, after Mumbai Mirror reports two cases of moral policing.
A 28-year-old woman complained to Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria on Thursday, of being harassed by two allegedly drunk constables while she and a male friend were sitting in their car and watching a video at Malad.
Just a day earlier, Mirror had reported two separate incidents of couples being harassed by moral policing, and being slapped with fines of Rs 1,200 for “indecent” behaviour.
“My friend was showing me a video and we were laughing. Suddenly, two constables arrived and started shouting at us,” said Shelar.
According to Shelar, when the cops — Nandakumar Bhonsaley and Suresh More — came close, she realised they were drunk. “Their eyes were bloodshot and they were reeking of alcohol.”
Shelar said they were asked to accompany the cops to Bangur Nagar Police station. “When we demanded to know the reason, they got angry, but I told them that after 10 pm a lady constable must be present,” she said.
A mobile van which was called arrived 20 minutes later. However, the officer in the van heard the couple out, and even apologised for the incident before letting them go.
Shelar said she was shocked by the cops’ attitude. “It was humiliating to be asked whether our parents knew we were together. We’re not teenagers. This is forceful moral policing,” she said.
Additional CP Kishore Jadhav said, “I will check details and take action. We’ve told our men not to indulge in moral policing.” He added that in such cases people should call helpline numbers 100 and 103.
MORAL POLICING PROGRAMME FOR POLICE OFFICIALS
The orientation programme for anti-eve teasing squads, announced by CP Maria following Mirror’s report on moral policing, was held on Thursday at Azad Maidan Police Club and attended by 116 officials, including lady constables, from 92 police stations.
Officers were told to act only in situations where a woman is being harassed by people unknown to her. “They were told their roles and limitations. Couples are not to be touched until a lady complains. We told them to take precautions and act only when anti-social elements are involved,” said DCP (Crime) Dhananjay Kulkarni.
A 28-year-old woman complained to Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria on Thursday, of being harassed by two allegedly drunk constables while she and a male friend were sitting in their car and watching a video at Malad.
Just a day earlier, Mirror had reported two separate incidents of couples being harassed by moral policing, and being slapped with fines of Rs 1,200 for “indecent” behaviour.
On Thursday, Malad resident and theatre actor Rachna Shelar, said in her complaint that around 10 pm on September 3, she and a friend were in their car outside Infinity Mall when two constables on a bike stopped by.
“My friend was showing me a video and we were laughing. Suddenly, two constables arrived and started shouting at us,” said Shelar.
According to Shelar, when the cops — Nandakumar Bhonsaley and Suresh More — came close, she realised they were drunk. “Their eyes were bloodshot and they were reeking of alcohol.”
Shelar said they were asked to accompany the cops to Bangur Nagar Police station. “When we demanded to know the reason, they got angry, but I told them that after 10 pm a lady constable must be present,” she said.
A mobile van which was called arrived 20 minutes later. However, the officer in the van heard the couple out, and even apologised for the incident before letting them go.
Shelar said she was shocked by the cops’ attitude. “It was humiliating to be asked whether our parents knew we were together. We’re not teenagers. This is forceful moral policing,” she said.
Additional CP Kishore Jadhav said, “I will check details and take action. We’ve told our men not to indulge in moral policing.” He added that in such cases people should call helpline numbers 100 and 103.
MORAL POLICING PROGRAMME FOR POLICE OFFICIALS
The orientation programme for anti-eve teasing squads, announced by CP Maria following Mirror’s report on moral policing, was held on Thursday at Azad Maidan Police Club and attended by 116 officials, including lady constables, from 92 police stations.
Officers were told to act only in situations where a woman is being harassed by people unknown to her. “They were told their roles and limitations. Couples are not to be touched until a lady complains. We told them to take precautions and act only when anti-social elements are involved,” said DCP (Crime) Dhananjay Kulkarni.
