Case against IAC volunteers for unlawful assembly

The Versova and DN Nagar police have registered a case against social activist Mayank Gandhi and around 50 other India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers for allegedly assembling unlawfully at JVPD circle on Sunday afternoon.

The Versova and DN Nagar police have registered a case against social activist Mayank Gandhi and around 50 other India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers for allegedly assembling unlawfully at JVPD circle on Sunday afternoon.

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The group was protesting over the coal block allocation issue According to the police, the group gathered around 12.30pm at the Cosmopolitan Education Society Marg in Andheri (West). A platoon of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), along with the regular police bandobast, was put in place to monitor the rally. However, the group had not sought the local police’s permission to organise the protest.

“The protesters who were waving the Indian flag were carrying banners and shouting slogans. A few minutes after the protest started, we took their contact details, following which they were allowed to leave via the Juhu-Versova Link Road,” said Sandip Pathak, police sub-inspector, DN Nagar police station.

When contacted, Gandhi said, “We had gathered to protest against the coal-mining scam. There were 200 activists present at the time. Our aim was to protest in front of the residence of Congress MP Rajeev Shukla.”

Officials from the Versova and DN Nagar police, however, refuted Gandhi’s allegations, stating that none of the protesters had been detained by the police.

“The assembly was peacefully dispersed. We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act for unlawful assembly. Further investigation is in progress,” said Pathak.