There's nothing wrong in a cop savouring some patriotic music. Nothing wrong in his downing a few pegs when off duty. But if the venue happens to be a ladies bar and the ambience comprises a bevy of female dancers, he better hope no one with a video camera is in the vicinity
Senior inspector of Badlapur (West) police station Dilip Patil was unfortunate in this regard. On August 9, Shailesh Tiwari, president of Kalyan Loksabha Kshetra Yuva Congress, complained (copy available with this newspaper) to several top authorities urging action on Ulhasnagar’s Chandni Bar for playing patriotic and religious songs like ‘Main Bheemrao ki beti’ and ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’. He also provided a few video CDs (MiD DAY has copies of these) to make his case.
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Interestingly, a cop attached to the office of director general of police (DGP), Maharashtra identified Patil while browsing through the footage. Patil was sitting at the bar in civil dress, sipping liquor.
Wrong place, time
“I was informed later about Patil’s presence at the bar. I inquired through my own sources and found out that not only Patil, some other policemen too were present there but managed to evade the camera. I know the police department will try to save Patil, but I will file a suit in court,” Tiwari told MiD DAY.
A police officer who had earlier worked with Patil also identified him when MiD DAY showed him the footage. Patil, now senior inspector at Badalapur (West) police station was earlier attached with Central police station at Ulhasnagar under whose jurisdiction Chandni Bar sits.
An image from the video footage of Dilip Patil at the bar Pic/Navneet Barhate
Chandni bar at Ulhasnagar.u00a0
MiD DAY repeatedly tried to reach assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Mahesh Chimte, but his mobile phone was out of coverage area. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Ulhasnagar, Shivaji Rathod did not respond to our calls and text messages.
The other side
“Nobody in Ulhasnagar can blame me for indulging in such activities. I’ve never visited any dance bar. I don’t know where Chandni Bar is. The video is doctored. I am innocent. But I am grateful to the person who is giving me free publicity,” Senior PI Dilip Patil told MiD DAY.u00a0
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