Mumbai: Journalist 'manhandled' by cop in Kurla

Representative Image. Pic/iStock

The Kurla Police registered a non-cognizable (NC) offence against a Traffic Police official for allegedly manhandling and misbehaving with a scribe when he complained about an autorikshaw driver. The cop, at the time of complaint, was allegedly resting in an autorikshaw, and got angry when he questioned about why he was not doing his duty, police sources said.

Following the complaint, a departmental inquiry has been launched against the cop, an official said.

According to the complaint, on Friday morning, between 10am to 10.15am, journalist Varun Singh got down at Kurla railway station to attend an event at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). When Singh asked an auto driver, he allegedly refused to take him to BKC. When he went to complain about it to a traffic cop resting in an auto, he told to come to him if nobody else agree to ply. But when Singh went to check with another auto he almost ran over him and fled. He then, once again reached out to the traffic cop asking why he is not taking action on such errant drivers, he got angry and asked, should I drop you home now?

Also Read: Autorickshaw driver who molested college student, dragged her with vehicle held

The complaint further said, the cop asked him to come to police station after Singh asked him to take action against the driver. In an auto, when Singh asked name of cop, he lied and told his name as Shinde. He allegedly tried to slap Singh when he asked to show his batch. Singh recorded whole incident on his mobile phone.

After reaching to police station an Non-cognizable offence registered against the cop identified as Arjun Jagtap (57) having rank of Assistant sub inspector, attached to Kurla Traffic division. He was booked under IPC 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 355 (Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonor person, otherwise than on grave provocation).

On Saturday, Singh was called by Kurla Traffic Division to record his statement, "An officer told me to say in my statement, that I Have no complaint against the police officer and was letting go off the matter. He told me Jagtap is about to retire. I told him, ASI Jagtap dragged me to police station to show me his power, as a common man I have power to complain" wrote Singh on Twitter. No action has been taken on the cop yet by Traffic division.