Mumbai: Cop thrashes 23-year-old man for delay in closing shop

Footage of CCTV cameras show the officer thrashing Prakash Choudhari

A shop owner has appealed to the chief minister for justice, after a police officer allegedly beat up his nephew because of a delay in shutting down the store.

Mukesh Choudhari, who owns Bhavani Farsan on B R Road in Mulund West, said he hasn't filed a police complaint as does not believe the police will do anything to give him justice.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon and was recorded on the CCTV cameras installed at the shop. The footage shows Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Patil dragging 23-year-old Prakash Choudhari out of Bhavani Farsan. On the way out, he was also seen hitting him repeatedly on the back.

Police said they had started shutting down shops on Sunday afternoon as the area was getting crowded. Amid the pandemic, the police have been given the authority to take appropriate action to enforce Covid-19-appropriate behaviour.

During the patrol, Patil saw that Bhavani Farsan was open and sent a constable to get it shut.

"The constable told my nephew to shut the shop. Prakash requested him for two minutes and tried to call me, as I was away. But, in the meanwhile, Patil came and grabbed him by his collar and dragged him out of the shop," said Mukesh.

Also read: Mumbai: Cops let off men, who threatened interfaith couple, with a warning

"My nephew was beaten black and blue, and is having trouble hearing, too. We are going to get some medical tests done," Mukesh said. "Neither was there a weekend lockdown nor any intimation about shutting down shops early. I admit that it took him some time to follow the police's order, but beating him up in such a manner isn't justified."

Marks on his upper back from the beatings

"I have written a letter to the chief minister, deputy CM and state home minister, demanding justice. How can small shopkeepers like us survive in the pandemic if such things happen to us?," he asked.

After the incident, Mukesh went to the police station and learnt that an offence has been registered against him and his nephew under Sections 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) and 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the IPC.

Vijay Bhise, senior inspector of Mulund police station, said, "The officer didn't beat up [Prakash], he got the marks on his body while travelling to the police station. Moreover, the owner hasn't registered any complaint with us yet."