BJP corporator slaps BMC official

Mumbai: The Wadala TT police station registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Krishnaveni Reddy after she slapped a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official on Friday.

The incident took place at Antop Hill where the BMC officer was carrying out inspection and the corporator assaulted him claiming that work was not being done in the ward.

The incident took place Thursday morning when Yogesh Gotad (31), junior observer with the BMC, was slapped by the corporator. In his complaint to the police, Mr Gotad said that he had the responsibility of ward 174, where he had been to take stock of cleanliness owing to incessant rains.

Mr Gotad told the police that he was accompanied by Ratnesh Agarwal, Swachch Mumbai engineer, when Ms Reddy, her followers in tow, arrived at the spot and began arguing with him. “She alleged that the work was not being done properly. When I tried to explain to her about the work being done, she suddenly slapped me,” Mr Gotad said.

Anticipating a further backlash following the assault, Mr Gotad did not speak a word and informed his seniors about the attack. Later, senior BMC officials and Mr Gotad lodged a police complaint against Ms Reddy.

“We have lodged a case following the complaint from the BMC official. Further action will be taken following investigation into the complaint,” said an officer of Wadala TT police station.

The police has filed a case against Ms Reddy under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from performing duty) and 332 (causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

The police is probing into the allegations and will record the statement of eyewitnesses in the incident.