Cop booked for travelling in disabled coach

Mumbai: The railway police booked a police officer under the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPWD) act for illegally travelling in a coach for handicapped people on Saturday. The action was taken against the personnel after a 50-year-old legitimate traveller dialled 182 to lodge a complaint against him.

The complaint gave way to a fight between the accused policeman, Dhondappa Ghejge, 26 and traveller Sanjay Modi, 50. Modi enquired why Ghejge was travelling in a reserved persons coach despite of being able bodied. Ghejge, attached with Local Arms Division II of Mumbai police, began cross-questioning Modi and at one point of time, he allegedly tried to assault Modi.

Ghejge was finally taken into custody after the train reached the Mumbai Central station and was subsequently booked after Modi pushed for a formal case. A copy of which is with the Asian Age.

“I was seated on the floor of the reserved coach travelling from Dahisar to Churchgate. When the train reached Dadar, Ghejge who was wearing a khaki pant boarded the coach. Since he was in a reserved coach, I asked him about his disability. He asked me to shut up,” Modi said.

Modi was taken aback as he knew Ghejge was a policeman and he dialled the Railway Protection Force (RPF) helpline number 182. When the train reached Mumbai Central, the next designated halt, RPF personnel took Ghejge into custody.

“In the RPF office, he tried to threaten and assault me. When I insisted on booking a case, we were taken to the Mumbai Central GRP. A case was filed based on my complaint,” added Modi.