Mumbai Police orders probe after cop's alleged NDPS threat to protesters goes viral

Screengrabs from the viral video purportedly showing Mumbai Police driver Pawan Sangle allegedly threatening detained student protesters inside a police van after Wednesday’s protest. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Barking dogs seldom bite. He is just like that. He doesn't have the capability, but thinks of himself as some hero."

That's how a Mumbai Police personnel who knows Pawan Sangle described the police driver at the centre of a controversy that has put the force under scrutiny after a video purportedly showing him threatening protesters with a fake NDPS case went viral.

The clip, allegedly recorded inside a Mumbai Police van after students were detained during Wednesday's protest over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, appears to show Sangle warning them against joining future demonstrations. In the video, Sangle is purportedly heard saying:

"Idhar wapis kahi mile, mere se bekar aadmi koi nahi. Me direct 50-50 grams powder daal dega. Phir gaya! Zindagi gaya! No bail! Tum log ke vajah se humko takleef hai abhi." The remarks triggered outrage on social media, following which Mumbai Police ordered a departmental inquiry and removed Sangle from his current posting pending the probe.

Who is Pawan Sangle?

Sangle, attached to Mumbai Police's Motor Transport (MT) department, was posted at Sion police station and deployed during Wednesday's protest to drive the police vehicle transporting detained protesters. Several colleagues described him as an "aaghav" - a Marathi colloquialism for someone who is loud, boastful, and likes to throw his weight around.

One police personnel alleged:
"He was always very humble in front of the Senior PI, ACP or DCP. But the moment he stepped out of their cabin, his real colours would come out."

Another colleague claimed:
"During patrols, he behaved as though he was the police officer. In front of civilians, he threw attitude, acted entitled and liked people believing he had authority."

What happens now?

According to senior police sources, investigators will:
>> Record statements of personnel deployed with Sangle
>> Speak to those who recorded and witnessed the incident
>> Question Sangle
>> Examine his service record and previous conduct
>> Verify the authenticity and context of the viral video

Officials said that while Sangle referred only to "powder" and not specifically to narcotics or drugs, his alleged remarks about students getting "no bail" and "rotting in jail" are likely to be closely examined during the inquiry.
No criminal case has been registered so far.

Official speaks

Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations)
"Mumbai Police has ordered an enquiry in the matter and action will be taken after verifying the facts."
Police later confirmed Sangle had been removed from his present posting until completion of inquiry.

A different view

Not everyone agreed with that assessment. A police officer who had earlier served at Sion police station urged caution against reading too much into the viral clip. "He only says ‘powder'. He never actually says narcotics or drugs. It could simply have been an attempt to intimidate the students rather than anything substantial." The officer, however, added that the remarks were unacceptable and justified a departmental inquiry.

What police say

Police officials clarified that:
>> Sangle is only a driver, not an investigating officer.
>> He had no role in registering cases against the detained students.
>> His alleged remarks do not reflect the values or professional standards of Mumbai Police.

Legal view

Vishhal Saxxenaa, Adv Supreme Court of India
"If found guilty after a thorough investigation, Police personnel involved could face criminal liability for criminal intimidation and for falsely charging a person with an offence without any lawful basis. It is a disturbing incident, as Mumbai Police personnel entrusted with upholding the law are not expected to threaten citizens or students in such a manner. At the same time, I would urge students to continue raising their concerns peacefully and within the framework of the law, as their voices are heard most effectively when their protests remain lawful."

Vikas Paras Mishra, Criminal Advocate, Bombay
"If the allegations are true, this is not just intimidation but a threat to falsely implicate students in an NDPS case. Planting 50 grams of cocaine could attract up to 10 years' imprisonment under the NDPS Act, and even an eventual acquittal cannot undo the damage to a person's education, career and reputation. If a police officer is found to have made such a threat, it raises legitimate questions about the credibility of investigations in which he played a role and warrants close scrutiny."

Political reactions

Raj Thackeray, MNS chief
"I have sent this video to the Mumbai Police commissioner. Does this mean policemen carry ‘powder' with them to frame innocent people? If this is true, strict action must be taken immediately."

Varsha Gaikwad, Congress MP
Questioned whether innocent youngsters may have been similarly implicated in false cases in the past and demanded a thorough probe and strict action against the driver.