Cops allowed to probe cow vigilantism

MUMBAI: The Amboli police on Monday got permission from a magistrate court to investigate the alleged harassment and intimidation of Barun Kashyap, creative head

MUMBAI: The Amboli police on Monday got permission from a magistrate court to investigate the alleged harassment and intimidation of Barun Kashyap, creative head of a production house in Andheri, by cow vigilantes last Friday.

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Kashyap, whose Facebook post about the incident went viral before he took it down, possibly fearing a backlash, said he was bullied and threatened by a rickshaw driver and two other people who suspected that the bag he was carrying was made from cow hide. According to data from Facebook, 56,738 people commented on Kashyap’s post in three days.

Deputy commissioner of police Ashok Dudhe confirmed the development, saying the non-congnisable complaint they registered is now being treated as a first-information report (FIR) and that an actual FIR will be registered if they get information about the accused.

An official from the Amboli police said they are searching for the rickhshaw driver.

The official said, “We asked for the magistrate’s permission under Section 155 of the Criminal Procedure Code and have been granted the same to investigate the non-cognisable offence. Usually, the complainant needs to approach the court but considering the present scenario, we took suo motu (on our own) cognisance and approached the court.”

Kashyap did not respond to phone calls and text messages on Sunday and Monday.