FIR filed against Mumbai resident for assaulting civic official during election duty

A member of the flying squad was allegedly assaulted by the person named in the FIR. Representational pic

Mumbai Police have registered a first information report (FIR) based on a complaint by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) against a citizen for obstructing officials performing election duty. The officials, part of a flying squad appointed under the state election commission, patrol and inspect vehicles at night during the Model Code of Conduct period.

The incident occurred on Sunday at 1.25 am near Milan Subway in Vile Parle. While inspecting a vehicle belonging to an aggregate cab service and recording the procedure on video, the officials were allegedly verbally and physically assaulted by the cab's passengers.

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According to the FIR, one passenger objected to the video recording. When the officials explained the purpose of the recording, another passenger allegedly attacked the official handling the camera from inside the vehicle.

Mumbai civic body official assaulted during night election patrol

The complaint was filed by Suresh Rathod, a civic official assigned to the inspection squad in K East Ward (Andheri East).

A police official told mid-day.com, "Flying squads inspect vehicles in the city at night as part of their election duty. A member of the flying squad was assaulted by the person against whom the FIR has been filed."

The FIR has been registered under Section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to assault or criminal force used against a public servant to prevent them from performing their duty; Section 115(2), which deals with punishment for "voluntarily causing hurt"; Section 352, which addresses intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace; and Section 351(2), concerning criminal intimidation.