Mumbai: Two MLAs surrender, crime branch officer suspended

Nearly 48 hours after a police case was registered aga-inst state legislators for allegedly assaulting police sub-inspector Sachin Suryavanshi in Vidhan Bhavan, two of the MLAs surrendered before the Mumbai police crime branch on Thursday. HT reports.

Nearly 48 hours after a police case was registered aga-inst state legislators for allege-dly assaulting police sub-inspector Sachin Suryavanshi in Vidhan Bhavan, two of the MLAs — Kshitij Thakur of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and Ram Kadam of MNS — surrendered before the Mumbai police crime branch on Thursday. They were remanded to a day in police custody.

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A crime branch officer, meanwhile, was suspended after legislators expressed unhappiness with the police force coming to the legislature.

Police inspector KB Nigde was place under suspension for entering Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday without the speaker’s permission.

State assembly speaker Dilip Walse Patil asked the government to probe police action on Wednesday.

He suspected a conspiracy by top police officials in deputing a large number of personnel outside Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday evening for arresting the MLAs.

After the speaker’s observation and a demand by legislators, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan asked home minister RR Patil to review a certain section of the IPC — assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty — against Thakur and Kadam.

The legislators alleged that this section was not applicable as the police officer was off duty on the day of assault.