Government on Wednesday ordered a probe into alleged thrashing of a man and a woman by police personnel inside a police station after a video clip of the incident went viral on social media.
“DCP, zone 10, Vinayak Deshmukh has been asked to conduct an inquiry to determine if policemen used force which is against the rules,” Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil said.
He said the clip is about two-three days old.
The couple seen in the video were found purportedly drunk opposite Andheri police station and quarrelling. They work in the same office. They were brought to the police station and police had a medical test conducted.
The medical report shows the couple had consumed alcohol, the minister said.
While they were seated separately, the girl became restless and started shouting, Patil said.
She can be seen in the clip trying to cling to the boy, he said.
The DCP has been asked to probe if policemen ‘crossed barriers’ while allegedly slapping and beating the couple, he said.
The Andheri Police however, claimed the duo were in an inebriated condition and scuffled with each other on the night of November 1 and that police only tried to pacify them.
Andheri Police, however, rubbished the charge saying that the duo were in an inebriated condition and had a scuffle with each other on night of November 1 and that the police only tried to pacify them.
“The couple were under heavy influence of alcohol and were fighting with each other on the road near Andheri Metro Station. They were then brought to the police station but the two again picked up a scuffle. Police just did the duty to separate them while they were fighting,” Senior Inspector, Andheri Police Station, Nandkumar Dhumal said.
He said the man was trying to get hold of the woman while the cops tried to restrain him and the video was shot at that particular moment.
The clip has been recorded to besmirch the reputation of the police, Dhumal claimed.
An inquiry has been initiated in the matter, he added.
No case was lodged against the couple and their parents were called to the police station. The duo were later released after a warning, he said, adding that a station-house diary was made and statements of the couple were recorded.
According to the police, the woman is a resident of suburban Nalasopara while the man lives in Byculla in South Mumbai. They worked at a call centre in Malad area.
