Man beaten for halting on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Pune: Halting on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway landed a 38-year-old tourist driver in trouble. He was allegedly abused and beaten by staffers of a construction company, and later made to run from pillar to post to lodge his complaint.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway. File pic

Vijay Tanaji Bhosale, a resident of Aundh in Pune works as a driver for a travel firm based in Model colony. The incident took place on the Khandala exit point on Thursday around 11.30 pm. "I had to pick up a tourist from the airport and bring them to Pune, when I noticed that the rear wheel on the left side was punctured. I managed to drive till the Khandala exit point before halting," said Tanaji, adding that he had switched on the parking light and front line to intimate commuters. "Just then, another vehicle, which was coming in the wrong direction approached me. They claimed to belong to a construction firm, and the driver was drunk. They asked me why I had stopped the car. When I told them about the puncture, they started abusing and beating me. They even threatened to report the matter to a minister if I lodge a complaint with the police."

Bhosale said he contacted the Pune police control number 100 twice, but received no response from them. "I also approached the Lonavala chowky, but no one was in there. It was only at the Talegoan toll naka, that they finally registered my case in the IRB complaint book." He added, "They assured me that my grievances will be addressed, but it has been more than 34 hours, and I haven't heard from them. I've been calling them for updates, but there's no response."

When contacted, Vinayak Dhakane deputy superintendent of police in-charge of Lonvala and under whose jurisdiction the Expressway falls, said he would look into the matter and register the complaint.