AIMIM MP’s Video Shows ‘Shiv Sainiks’ Waving Guns on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, FIR Registered
AIMIM’s Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel has tweeted a video purportedly showing two men in a car waving guns at a truck driver on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in a bid to clear way for their own vehicle, with the parliamentarian claiming that the duo belonged to the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. He said the incident took place on Friday night, and sought immediate arrest of the offenders.
The Shiv Sena said the police would carry out a probe into the incident and take necessary steps as everyone was equal before the law. A police official said that an offence has been registered against the two occupants of the car at Khopoli in Raigad district and a search was on to trace them.
In the text posted along with the video in his tweet, Jaleel said, “This is on Pune Mumbai expressway in Maharashtra! The logo on the vehicle says it all! Shiv Sainiks brandishing revolvers while trying to make way for their vehicle on Friday night. Can HM/ DG take note of this lawlessness!” The video shows two men waving one gun each from the car window at a truck driver to clear way for their own vehicle. Their car then goes ahead of the truck and leaves the spot. The rear windshield of their vehicle could be seen carrying a sticker of a snarling tiger face, which is Shiv Sena’s logo. Jaleel tagged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s office, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and the state Director General of Police (DGP) in his tweet.
When asked about the incident, Shiv Sena’s Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai South and party spokesperson Arvind Sawant said, “All are equal before the law. Police will investigate and take necessary steps.” A police official said that an FIR has been registered against the unidentified persons for brandishing firearms on the Expressway at Khopoli in neighboring Raigad district. “The offence has been registered against them under section 3/25 of the Arms Act at Khopoli police station,” the official said.
A hunt is on to trace the vehicle and its occupants, who showed the weapons to the truck driver, he added. Based on the registration number of the car, the police are trying to get information from the transport department about the owner of the vehicle.
While addressing a press conference in Aurangabad later, Jaleel asked, “Has power brought so much arrogance to Shiv Sena?” “One of our party workers, who was coming from Mumbai to Pune, recorded this incident in his camera near Lonavala. The occupants of the car, which was ahead of this party worker’s vehicle, took out revolvers and threatened the drivers,” he said.
“In the video, the logo of Shiv Sena party is clearly visible on the rear windshield of the car. The government must investigate whether the people who did this are goons or party workers of Shiv Sena. Such an incident was never seen happening in a state like Maharashtra,” he said. He said Minister of State for Home Shambhuraj Desai has assured him that an inquiry would be carried out.
“But what will be the outcome of the inquiry? Are they going to prove that the gun was a toy which children play during Diwali. The vehicle number is clearly visible (in the video)…arrest the accused,” he said.
