Mumbai: The senior police inspector of Vartak Nagar police station was shunted out to the control room on Monday for his “casual approach” towards the illegal activities going on in the area including at Satyam Lodge, where 274 hidden rooms were recently found by civic authorities.
The Thane police was about to cancel the police licence of the lodge owner a year ago when three cases of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act India (PITA) were registered against them in 2014-15, but it did not, as a government order said the move can be undertaken only by the civic body (Thane Municipal Corporation).
On Sunday, the lodge owner, along with three other people, was arrested by Vartak Nagar police station officials in Thane.
Senior police inspector K.G Gavit, of Vartak Nagar police station on Monday shunted out to the Thane police control room.
Confirming the action taken against Mr Gavit, a senior official said, “The lodge was running for so many years and still the police officer had a very casual approach (towards it), because of which he was transferred.”
Residents of Upvan said they had complained to the police and TMC officials via letters and phone calls but no action was taken for many years. They said they finally sent a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis this June, after which demolition action was taken against the lodge, explained some residents.
Ganesh Tak, a social worker, and member of Misalvadi residential society said, “We’ve known this lodge since childhood. Since 2011 all of us residents have been continuously sending letters and complaints about Satyam Lodge. Due to this lodge people used to look strangely at our women and girls when they walked on the road. The lodge was running a dance bar inside and used play loud music at night, so we complained to the police but they never took any action against it. We have seen some raids being carried out but the lodge never stopped its illegal activities.”
TMC workers, who began demolishing Satyam Lodge last week, were shocked to see a hidden three-storey structure in the basement.
Nirmal, who runs one of the shops located near Satyam Lodge, said, “I have seen the police taking haftas (protection money) many times from Chanapa Gaunda and Janardan Pujaribhai (who had taken the lodge on rent). Because of this the police never used to take strict action against these people.”
