Mumbai,Mar 20: A police officer who dared to fine an MLA for alleged over-speeding, was today beaten up right inside the Vidhan Bhavan by a group of legislators and had to be carried on a stretcher.
Sachin Suryavanshi, an Assistant Police Inspector attached to the Worli police station, was beaten up by a group of MLAs outside the visitors gallery after he allegedly made some “provocative” gestures.
Suryavanshi had yesterday stopped the vehicle of Kshitij Thakur, a Bahujan Vikas Agadhi MLA from Vasai, on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link when the latter was on way to attend the Assembly session, slapped a fine for speeding, and also allegedly misbehaved with him.
This morning, Thakur moved a breach of privilege notice against Suryavanshi and gave a detailed account of the policeman's “misbehaviour.”
Angered by Thakur's information, members cutting across party lines created an uproar and demanded the officer's suspension leading to an adjournment when the officer was sighted in the visitor's gallery.
Suryavanshi, according to some MLAs, was seen allegedly making some provocative gestures with his hand.
The MLA from Vasai identified the officer as one who had been rude to him following which Ram Kadam (MNS), Rajan Salvi (Shiv Sena), Pradeep Jaiswal (Independent) and Thakur himself among others, rushed outside.
They caught hold of Suryavanshi right at the entrance to the visitors gallery on the first floor and thrashed him. BJP's Jaykumar Rawal (BJP) was also seen with them.
The MLAs' action drew sharp criticism from their own fraternity, besides the state and city police brass, who rushed to the assembly and met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to register protest.
“We had demanded the policeman's suspension and the action would have been taken. But, legislators taking law into their hands is not appropriate. We condemn this. MNS chief Raj Thackeray is extremely angry with party legislator Ram Kadam and fired me,” Bala Nandgaonkar, the MNS group leader said.
He said the party would accept any action against the legislators. “The party would take a decision on action against Ram Kadam as well,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said BJP would not tolerate such action by its legislators. “If found on the CCTV footage that our legislators were involved in the beating up of the policeman, the party would stop them from attending the House proceedings for the rest of the session,” he said.
“Law makers cannot be law breakers. We enjoy special privileges through which action can be taken against those who violate them,” NCP MLA and spokesman Nawab Malik said and demanded action against the MLAs for their conduct.
State's Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal, Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh, city Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy and several other senior officers rushed to the House and were closeted with the Chief Minister for some time.
Though what exactly transpired at the meeting was not immediately known, it was learnt that they had lodged protest over the incident.
After the issue regarding alleged misbehaviour with Thakur by Suryavanshi was raised in the Legislative Council yesterday, Home Minister R R Patil had told the House that the officer would be sent on “compulsory leave” pending an inquiry.
The issue rocked the Legislative Assembly today with the Opposition forcing the House to adjourn five times while demanding Suryavanshi's suspension.
Later, Speaker Dilip Walse Patil apologised to the people of Maharashtra, members of the House and the police for the unsavoury incident inside the Vidhan Bhavan complex.
“Vidhan Sabha and the MLAs are an institution and it is our duty as members to uphold its dignity,” Walse-Patil said after the House re-assembled following a series of adjournments.
“I apologise to the people of the state, the police as well as the legislators for what happened today. We are custodians of the law. I need to take into account all aspects of the incidents which happened yesterday as well as today in Vidhan Bhavan,” he said.
Talking to reporters at Vidhan Bhavan in the evening, both Thakur and Kadam denied any wrongdoing on their part.
“There is an impression being given in TV media that only 4-5 legislators were there during the incident. In reality, there were 40 to 50 legislators present. We had come to seek explanation for the rude behaviour from the police officer,” Kadam said.
“I didn't start the fight. In fact, I was the one who was pushed down in the melee,” he said.
Kadam, an MNS MLA, said the party had not sought any clarification from him over the incident. “There are 2.25 lakh policemen in the state and not all of them are bad,” Kadam said.
Thakur appeared defiant, saying he would not tender an apology to Suryawanshi. “I didn't abuse the officer. I don't believe in violence. I am ready to take all the responsibility for the actions of my colleagues,” he said.
“Let the masses see the video (of the officer allegedly abusing him on the sea link yesterday). If they feel I am guilty, I will resign,” Thakur said.
Meanwhile, condemning the incident, Maharashtra NCP president Madhukar Pichad demanded strict punishment for the guilty.
Pichad said he was a seven-time legislator and such an incident had never happened in the legislative assembly.
“Lawmakers cannot be law-breakers. They enjoy special privileges and those violating it can be punished. MLAs beating up an outsider in the legislative assembly premises has never happened before. Legislature is the temple of democracy and its dignity has to be maintained,” he said.
