Mumbai: Probe into clash outside NSCI club over traffic hold-up indicts policemen

Mumbai: An inquiry into the ruckus outside a city club where policemen jostled with members to prevent their entry during a function attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, indicted the cops, concluding that the situation could have been handled better.

The probe report was submitted to Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria by RD Shinde, Additional Commissioner Police (Central) on Thursday.

Maria had ordered an inquiry on Monday.

Last Sunday, traffic policemen at the NSCI Club in central Mumbai’s Worli had stopped private vehicles to make way for the Chief Minister’s convoy and video footage showed them grappling with some of the club members, including an elderly person.

The issue triggered an outrage over people being inconvenienced during movement of VVIPs and Opposition parties attacked Fadnavis.

Officer Shinde confirmed he submitted the report to Maria but refused to divulge the findings.

Police sources said that report elaborated on arrangements made for the CM’s convoy at the venue and subsequent developments that triggered the commotion and highlighted the lacuna on the part of the police while giving recommendations to avoid repeat of such incident.

“The report consists the details sought from NSCI club and the recorded statements of the police personnel deployed at the venue,” said another officer.

The gist of the inquiry report suggested that the situation could have been handled better.

Fadnavis, who enjoys Z plus security, had apologised for the melee.

“My sincere apologies to those who were stopped by the police unnecessarily. People in the state have always seen me stopping at traffic signals. I don’t believe in VIP culture,” he had tweeted.

PTI