MNS men thrash multiplex manager over high food prices

Pune: Five MNS workers were arrested by the police for allegedly assaulting the manager of a multiplex theatre for selling food items at exorbitant rates at its premises on Thursday. The video of the MNS members assaulting the manager went viral even as the party’s city chief, thereafter warned that multiplexes that sell food items at high rates will face the same fate, in true MNS style. He also asked cinema halls to reduce food item rates within two days.

MNS members assaulted the assistant manager of PVR Cinemas at Pavilion Mall, Senapati Bapat Road. Over 10 MNS workers entered the multiplex at 2pm on Thursday, asking the rates of food items sold there. They were carrying banners protesting overpricing. Following a reply by the PVR management, the MNS workers assaulted the assistant manager. Kishor Shinde, ex-corporator of Kothrud area; Ramesh Pardeshi of Chitrapat Sena of MNS; Sagar Pathak; Chetan Dhotre; and Anand Kundur have been arrested.

D.S. Shinde, police sub-inspector, Chatushrungi police station, said, “Vinod Mali of PVR Cinemas has lodged a FIR against five people under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Police Act.”

“As per the FIR, MNS workers verbally abused the manager and later, physically assaulted him over overpricing of food items sold at the multiplex premises. MNS workers caused stoppage of all operations at the multiplex for over half an hour. We have arrested five MNS workers, including Mr Shinde. We produced them before judge H.R. Jadhav, sessions Court, Pune, who remanded them to one-day police custody,” said D.S. Shinde

Meanwhile, Ajay Shinde, MNS Pune City chief, said, “Based on the recent high court order to reduce prices of food items at multiplexes, party members had gone to many cinema halls, including PVR Cinemas at B.S. Road to give a letter asking the authorities to reduce rates of food items sold in cinema halls at exorbitant rates. When the party workers asked managers at PVR cinemas about the rates, their manager gave an arrogant and careless reply to our members. He said he could not read Marathi and hence, wasn’t aware of news published in Marathi.”

“That is why our members lost their temper and replied to the manager. If any cinema hall sells food at higher rates against the HC order, they will be answered in MNS style like what happened in this case. We ask all cinema halls to reduce food item rates within two days,” said Ajay Shinde.