10 June,2026 05:44 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
The incident reportedly occurred near Jupiter Hospital in Thane. Pic/videograb
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the police to register an attempt to murder case against a cab driver accused of assaulting an elderly man in Thane, reported the PTI.
The incident reportedly occurred near Jupiter Hospital in Thane on Tuesday evening when the senior citizen objected to the driver allegedly spitting on the road.
According to a statement issued by Eknath Shinde's office, the driver allegedly assaulted the elderly man after being confronted, causing severe injuries.
The statement claimed that the accused, who is said to be from outside Maharashtra, reacted violently following the exchange.
A video of the incident, which has since circulated widely on social media, allegedly shows the driver picking up a stone and attempting to attack the elderly man.
The footage triggered public outrage and prompted calls for strict action against the accused.
According to the statement, local workers of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena tracked down the driver after the incident.
They allegedly detained him before handing him over to the Vartak Nagar Police Station for further action.
According to the PTI, reacting to the incident, Shinde said violence against a person for raising concerns about littering could not be tolerated.
"If a person is brutally assaulted merely for pointing out that someone is littering, it will not be accepted at any cost," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister subsequently instructed Thane CP Ashutosh Dumbre to register a case under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relates to attempt to murder.
Police officials said that no formal case had been registered as of Tuesday because the victim had not yet come forward to lodge a complaint.
Following the incident, several social media users demanded strict action against the cab driver.
In a post on X, the Thane city police wrote the the Senior Police Inspector of Vartaknagar Police Station has been informed about the incident for necessary action.
The alleged assault attracted significant attention as it occurred in Thane, a city widely regarded as a political stronghold of Eknath Shinde.
(with PTI inputs)
