Man barges into PMC office, assaults official

The assailant claimed to be a worker in the office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Shrinath Yashwant Bhimale.

A deputy engineer at the anti encroachment department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was assaulted by a person who claimed to be a worker in the office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Shrinath Yashwant Bhimale. The deputy engineer was identified as Kishore Padal, while the man who allegedly assaulted him was identified as Rajabhau Bhujbal. Bhimale is a three-time corporator from Pune and the leader of the House at PMC.

The peons who allegedly tried to stop Bhujbal from assaulting Padal were also threatened, according to Padal. (AFP)

The incident happened around 1 pm in Padal’s office inside the PMC building. The peons who allegedly tried to stop Bhujbal from assaulting Padal were also threatened, according to Padal.

“I was sitting in my office when he entered my chamber and started hitting and asking me why I had refused to meet his saheb (boss) Shrinath Bhimale. I had never received any call or message from him asking for a meeting. So I have no idea what he was talking about. When our peons tried to stop him and talk instead, he threatened to beat them up as well,” said Padal.

A case under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against Bhujbal at Shivajinagar police station in the late hours of Saturday.

“I do not know who Rajabhau Bhujbal is and I’m learning about this incident from you. I got another call asking about him and I told them the same thing,” said Bhimale.

Padal underwent a medical test at Sassoon General Hospital before the first information report (FIR) was registered in the matter. Shivajinagar police will investigate the case further.