We need to learn from our mistakes, says Mumbai police chief

The Mumbai police needs to learn from the mistakes they made in two recent incidents —the Nehru Nagar bribery case, where 36 policemen were caught receiving bribes on camera, and the controversy surrounding traffic sub-inspector Sachin Suryav-anshi, police chief Satyapal Singh said on Sunday.

The Mumbai police needs to learn from the mistakes they made in two recent incidents —the Nehru Nagar bribery case, where 36 policemen were caught receiving bribes on camera, and the controversy surrounding traffic sub-inspector Sachin Suryav-anshi, police chief Satyapal Singh said on Sunday.

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“There were lapses from our side in both the Mantralaya [Suryavanshi case] and Nehru Nagar incidents. We also need to realise our mistakes to build a strong team when it comes to taking action,” said Singh.

The police commissioner said he has asked his force to mind their manners with the public and public representatives. “We have to behave nicely with people to avoid such altercations. As far as the Mantralaya incident is concerned, appropriate action has been taken and investigations are on,” he added.

When asked about whether the recent incidents had dented the police’s confidence, he said, “Two incidents can’t bring down the morale of the force. We have sent a clear-cut

message to the force to behave properly.”

The Maharashtra government had suspended 36 policemen attached to the Nehru Nagar police station in Kurla for allegedly accepting bribe to allow an illegal construction at Chembur during a covert operation by a social activist.

In the second incident, the police had suspended traffic sub-inspector Suryavanshi who was beaten up by some MLAs on the assembly premises. Suryavanshi had been summoned by the speaker of the Vidhan Bhavan following a privilege notice made by independent MLA Kshitij Thakur, whose vehicle had been stopped by Suryavanshi for speeding on the Bandra-Worli sea link

On March 19, a first information report (FIR) was registered at the Marine Drive police station against MLAs Kshitij Thakur, Ram Kadam and 14 others for allegedly beating up the officer. Later, the crime branch had taken over the probe.