Traffic cop alleges assault by writer

The scriptwriter, whose vehicle had tinted glasses, allegedly abused and attacked the traffic cop when he was stopped; Bangur Nagar police made the traffic constable leave without lodging a complaint

A traffic cop unwittingly played a key part in a real-life drama allegedly concocted by a television scriptwriter yesterday afternoon. The sub-inspector claims he was assaulted and abused by the wordsmith, and that subsequently Bangur Nagar police refused to register his complaint. An inquiry has been initiated into the case, which would be carried out by the deputy commissioner of police (traffic).

PSI Kanaiyalal Shinde attached to Malad traffic division said he was on duty at the Inorbit Mall traffic signal. While he was taking action against the illegal parking near the mall, a white car sped through the barricading. Seeing that the vehicle had tinted glasses and an Uttar Pradesh number plate (UP 44 P 9516), traffic constable Rajendra Galve gestured to the driver to stop. The driver did not pay heed and crossed the signal, but Shinde and Galve followed and intercepted the car.

Hitting the roof: Scriptwriter Manoj Shukla was caught on camera bouncing on top of his car when confronted by traffic cops

When Shinde knocked on the windowpane, the driver - identified as Manoj Shukla, who is a Goregaon resident and a scriptwriter - got out. "Shukla began abusing us. When we asked him to desist, he climbed onto the roof of his car, and began shouting and damaging the vehicle, threatening us at the same time. A woman who was accompanying Shukla also bad-mouthed us," said Shinde.

The cop says when he asked for Shukla's licence, the latter threatened him and held Shinde's collar. "Shukla assaulted me and when Galve intervened he was also beaten up. When the matter went out of hand, I asked Shukla to come to the police station. Shukla was nonchalant and told me that he would see to it that I suffer," added Shinde.

A crowd gathered at the spot. However, Shinde says Shukla did not budge and kept insulting and abusing him. When Shinde brought him to Bangur Nagar police station with the crowd accompanying them, the duty officer allegedly told Shinde that he should have let the car pass and noted down the number. The cops recorded the statements of Shinde, Shukla and the witnesses. After this, Ravindra Patil, senior police inspector (traffic), arrived and, after a brief chat, allegedly scolded Shinde.

Meanwhile, in his statement to the police Shukla said that Shinde had abused his female friend and had also damaged his car. Shinde says Patil then asked him to leave without registering a complaint.u00a0"I do not want to continue in the profession like this. If this is how I am treated then I will quit," Shinde lamented, showing the nail-scratch marks that he had allegedly received during the episode.

MiD DAY asked Shukla for his version on the matter, but he refused to speak to us.u00a0Inspector Ramesh Mede from Bangur Nagar police station said, "We are ready to register a case. However, the victim has now said he does not want to lodge a complaint. We have recorded the statement of the driver and the witnesses."

When contacted, Brijesh Singh, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said that he had asked the DCP (traffic) to investigate the matter and if such an incident has indeed taken place, he will make sure that a case is registered.