Cop harassed by hawker seeks police protection

After MiD DAY reported that transferred RPF official Arvind Yadav was being threatened by a hawker, the cop has sought protection from rail and police authorities

A senior police inspector, Arvind Kumar Yadav, posted at Assam Railway Protection Force (RPF), has demanded police protection from railway and police authorities in Mumbai. Yadav alleged that he and his family are in danger from a hawker Pradip Agrawal alias Saunthalia.

MiD DAY had reported about the ruffian hawker ('Hawker aims gun at RPF cop after stealing from him', December 29) who had befriended RPF cops at CST station to carry out illegitimate activities right under their nose.


Senior Police Inspector Arvind Yadav alleged that he and his family are in danger from a hawker Pradip Agrawal alias Saunthalia

Saunthalia had threatened Yadav with reopening a pending CBI case against him, after stealing Rs 35,000 from his bank account.

Incidentally, Yadav reported sick soon after he was transferred to Assam as the Central Bureau of Investigation had slapped corruption charges on him following raids. He wanted police protection while on leave.

Police protection

On November 29, 2010 Yadav wrote letters to 21 authorities including Navghar and MRA Marg police in Mumbai and also Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) Government Railway Police (GRP).

Earlier, Yadav had complained to several police officials stating that Saunthalia aimed a revolver at him in RPF police station at CST and was blackmailing him.

According to complaints (copies available with MiD DAY), after the CBI raids on Kurla Terminus, where Yadav was earlier posted, 14 RPF officials were transferred out of Maharashtra in October 2010 for conducting illegal activities out of the terminus. Yadav was transferred to Assam.

To avoid further action by the CBI, Yadav kept his valuable documents, like investment papers, I-T return papers, properties papers, bank passbook, checkbook, debit cards and so on with his colleague, an RPF constable called Arati Yadav. Later Arati handed them over to Saunthalia.

Money stolen

On November 13, Yadav came to know that Saunthalia had withdrawn Rs 35,000 using his debit card from Dhanlaxmi bank in Mulund.

When Yadav questioned Saunthalia, he admitted to the theft but warned him to forget the incident at the point of a revolver. At that time he was sitting in the chair of an RPF police inspector at CST station.

(Picture with MiD DAY) He told Yadav that if he demanded the money back, Saunthalia would send all his documents to the CBI, who could then reopen the case against him.

He also demanded Rs 25 lakh from Yadav in return for Rs 1 lakh that he had paid to get Yadav out on bail on December 22, 2009, after the CBI had arrested him.

Confirming that he demanded police protection, Yadav refused to share details. "I am a government employee and cannot talk to the media," he said.

S D Ghule, senior inspector, Navghar police station, Mulund, said, "I have received Yadav's letter. The matter is under investigation."