Guard from minister’s convoy breaks toll plaza glass, 1 hurt

Nashik: An employee of a Ghoti toll booth was injured when a security guard in the convoy of PWD minister Eknath Shinde allegedly broke window panes of the booth early on Wednesday. Ghoti police has registered a case under sections 337 and 427 of the IPC.

In his complaint, the injured employee Sandeep Ghongde (32) said that a security man in a dark suit got down from one of the cars and began arguing with him. Later, he broke the window panes. A flying glass splinter hit Ghongde on the nose after which he began bleeding. Other employees immediately took him to the hospital where is said to be out of danger. Sources said that the minister, along with his convoy, was returning to Mumbai from Nashik where he attended some programmes. At around 1.30 am on Wednesday, the convoy arrived at the Ghoti toll booth off Mumbai-Agra Highway in Igatpuri tehsil of Nashik district which borders Thane.

Toll employees immediately opened up the opposite lane and allowed the cars to pass. However, the security vehicle of the minister got caught in traffic. One of the security men got down from one of the cars and began arguing with the toll booth employee. The argument turned heated and the security man allegedly hit the window panes of the toll booth. As the glass broke, a splinter hit Ghongde on the nose.

This is the second such case when toll booth employees have argued with lawmakers. Readers may recall that Shiv Sena MLA Anil Kadam of Niphad was not allowed to pass through by a female employee of Pimpalgaon Baswant toll booth in his own constituency on August 22, 2013. The employee later filed a case of molestation against the MLA and he had to secure bail from court.

Meanwhile, Mr Shinde issued clarification stating that, his security guard did not beat anyone, but while knocking at the glass window, it broke, thus hurting the toll booth operator.