Mumbai: Pulled up for wrong U-turn, man assaults traffic cop

The incident occurred near the Oberoi Mall junction on WEH in Goregaon East. Representation Pic

The Dindoshi police are on the hunt for a man who allegedly verbally abused and physically assaulted a traffic police constable, Kailash Abhang, after the car he was in was stopped for taking a U-turn at the wrong place on the Western Express Highway (WEH) in Goregaon East. According to police sources, the incident took place on the evening of Friday, September 22, near the Hub Mall intersection.

Constable Abhang, who has been with the Mumbai police and is currently stationed at Dindoshi traffic division, was on duty around 6.30 pm. A Honda Accord with the registration number MH04ET 7795 was speeding towards the Adani Electricity office on the southbound carriageway of the WEH.

"The car driver ignored traffic rules and made a wrong U-turn toward Oberoi Mall and proceeded to drive on the wrong side of the road," a police officer said. Abhang gestured for the driver to stop, but the latter ignored him and continued driving. Abhang managed to get the car stopped at the Oberoi Mall junction and confronted the driver about his violation.

"Abhang informed the driver that he would be issued an e-challan for making a wrong U-turn. But then the passenger sitting in the car's front seat got out of the vehicle and confronted Abhang. The passenger accused Abhang of stopping drivers only to extort money and even offered him a bribe to let them go. Abhang insisted that he was just doing his duty and asked the passenger to mind his language. In response, the passenger verbally abused Abhang, snatched the e-challan machine from him, and physically assaulted him," the officer added.

The officer added that the passenger then started recording the incident on his mobile phone, accusing Abhang of soliciting a bribe. Abhang called his superiors for backup even as the accused continued to abuse him. "Abhang asked the driver of the car to provide the passenger's name, but the driver refused," the officer said. While Abhang was speaking to the driver, the passenger fled from the spot.

"On Abhang's complaint, we have registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and booked the driver, Rajitram Yadav, 46, and the unknown person sitting beside him. Rajitram was arrested and produced before the court on Saturday. He has been remanded in police custody. We are searching for the other accused," the officer said.

6.30 pm
Time the incident happened on Friday