Cop protecting Uddhav Thackeray aide leaves loaded gun in public loo

The police bodyguard of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's personal assistant Milind Narvekar forgot his loaded service revolver in a public toilet yesterday morning.

The policeman, identified only as Gawde, left his firearm in the public toilet in Chincholi Bunder. Pic/Nayan Sahane

The cop who went in to answer nature's call left the gun near a window and then pushed off. An alert auto driver found the firearm and informed the police. On reaching home the constable realised his blunder and went straight to Malad police station.

The policeman identified only as Gawde got back his revolver. He is a member of the protection branch of Mumbai police. Cops refused to come on record about the incident, but MiD DAY has learnt that a departmental inquiry has been initiated. Sources say Gawde, who is a resident of Malad, was on his way back home early in the morning after being on duty all night, and was desperate to urinate. A source from Malad police station said, "He went inside a public toilet at Chincholi Bunder.

He took off the service revolver and placed it near a window. But while leaving he forgot to collect the weapon. An auto driver informed us and our team went to the restroom and recovered the revolver." In the meantime, after becoming conscious of his folly Gawde first went to the particular lavatory, and then to Malad police station where he finally found the gun. Cops pointed out that if the revolver had landed in the hands of a miscreant, the consequences could have been dire.