Rattled by a 'Gandhi-giri' style message sticking out of an open manhole on a footpath, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) officials swooped there at lightning speed for a 'cover-up' operation, here on Tuesday.

Earlier this morning, citizens hurrying to work paused momentarily to glance at a bouquet of flowers with the legend 'Saheb' blooming out of a yawning manhole, posing serious danger to pedestrians.