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

Barking dogs seldom bite He is just like that He doesnrsquot have the capability but thinks of himself as some herordquoThatrsquos 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 viralThe clip allegedly recorded inside a Mumbai Police van after students were detained during Wednesdayrsquos protest over the alleged NEETUG paper leak appears to show Sangle warning them against joining future demonstrations In the video Sangle is purportedly heard sayingldquoIdhar wapis kahi mile mere se bekar aadmi koi nahi Me direct 5050 grams powder daal dega Phir gaya Zindagi gaya No bail Tum log ke vajah se humko takleef hai abhirdquo The remarks triggered outrage on social media following which Mumbai Police ordered a departmental inquiry and removed Sangle from his current posting pending the probeWho is Pawan SangleSangle attached to Mumbai Policersquos Motor Transport MT department was posted at Sion police station and deployed during Wednesdayrsquos protest to drive the police vehicle transporting detained protesters Several colleagues described him as an ldquoaaghavrdquo mdash a Marathi colloquialism for someone who is loud boastful and likes to throw his weight aroundOne police personnel allegedldquoHe 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 outrdquoAnother colleague claimedldquoDuring 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 authorityrdquoWhat happens nowAccording to senior police sources investigators willgtgt Record statements of personnel deployed with Sanglegtgt Speak to those who recorded and witnessed the incidentgtgt Question Sanglegtgt Examine his service record and previous conductgtgt Verify the authenticity and context of the viral videoOfficials said that while Sangle referred only to ldquopowderrdquo and not specifically to narcotics or drugs his alleged remarks about students getting ldquono bailrdquo and ldquorotting in jailrdquo are likely to be closely examined during the inquiryNo criminal case has been registered so farOfficial speaksOffice of the Deputy Commissioner of Police OperationsldquoMumbai Police has ordered an enquiry in the matter and action will be taken after verifying the factsrdquoPolice later confirmed Sangle had been removed from his present posting until completion of inquiryA different viewNot 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 ldquoHe only says lsquopowderrsquo He never actually says narcotics or drugs It could simply have been an attempt to intimidate the students rather than anything substantialrdquo The officer however added that the remarks were unacceptable and justified a departmental inquiryWhat police sayPolice officials clarified thatgtgt Sangle is only a driver not an investigating officergtgt He had no role in registering cases against the detained studentsgtgt His alleged remarks do not reflect the values or professional standards of Mumbai PoliceLegal viewVishhal Saxxenaa Adv Supreme Court of IndialdquoIf 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 lawfulrdquoVikas Paras Mishra Criminal Advocate BombayldquoIf 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 yearsrsquo imprisonment under the NDPS Act and even an eventual acquittal cannot undo the damage to a personrsquos 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 scrutinyrdquoPolitical reactionsRaj Thackeray MNS chiefldquoI have sent this video to the Mumbai Police commissioner Does this mean policemen carry lsquopowderrsquo with them to frame innocent people If this is true strict action must be taken immediatelyrdquoVarsha Gaikwad Congress MPQuestioned 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