Police said that the driver, identified as Arun Baban Pokharkar, allegedly sped through the village while intoxicated and collided with four to five parked and moving vehicles
A case for drunk driving has been registered at the NRI police station, an official said. Representational Pic/File
A retired senior police officer has been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and ramming his car into several vehicles in Navi Mumbai city in Maharashtra, officials said.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening at Karave village in the Seawoods West area, caused panic among motorists and residents.
Police said the driver, identified as Arun Baban Pokharkar, allegedly sped through the village while intoxicated and collided with four to five parked and moving vehicles. Although there were no serious injuries, the crash damaged multiple vehicles and alarmed people in the vicinity, according to the PTI.
Enraged locals intervened, stopping the car, pulling the driver out and assaulting him before police arrived. Authorities later confirmed his identity after finding a police ID card and nameplate inside the vehicle.
Drunk driving case registered
Following a preliminary inquiry and medical examination, police said Pokharkar was found to be under the influence of alcohol, the news agency reported.
A case for drunk driving has been registered at the NRI police station, and further investigation is ongoing.
After completing medico-legal procedures, he was released.
Mumbai Police suspend cop for inaction against illegal hawkers
Meanwhile, in an another incident, the Mumbai Police has initiated action against its own personnel, suspending a policeman for failing to act against hawkers while on duty.
A Mumbai Police Assistant Police Inspector Narayan Siddhappa Anand, attached to Azad Maidan police station, was suspended after allegedly failing to take action against illegal hawkers outside the Churchgate subway area on January 27.
A police source said Anand was deployed outside Churchgate station between 7 pm and 9 pm, when several hawkers were operating in the subway area. Despite being instructed by senior officers to act against unauthorised vendors, he allegedly failed to take action. Following an internal inquiry, Anand was served a suspension notice, the source added.
Following the suspension, authorities claim the Churchgate subway area has largely become hawker-free. When mid-day visited the location on Thursday, no hawkers were seen operating in the area. “We are taking strict action against illegal hawkers and registering FIRs where necessary. The entire area has been cleared, and regular drives are being conducted to prevent their return,” a police officer said.
(with PTI inputs)
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