The Mumbai Police have removed a personnel member from his posting and initiated a formal inquiry after he was caught on camera threatening to frame student demonstrators in a fabricated narcotics case.
The controversy was triggered by a viral video, shared by the Mumbai Congress on the social media platform X, depicting the uniformed officer, identified as a driver, addressing a group of young people detained in a police van.
The students had been participating in protests organised by the online platform Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has seen significant gatherings at Shivaji Park, Chembur, and Azad Maidan.
In the footage, the officer is heard warning the detainees against returning to the protest sites. “If you are seen again here, I will ruin your lives,” he said, reports NDTV.
He threatened to plant illicit substances on them, saying, “I will put 50-50 grams of powder in your bags, and your life will be finished.” The policeman added that the persistent demonstrations had made his own life difficult.
The Mumbai Police stated they have taken “serious note” of the incident and are investigating the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the recording.
Pending the outcome of this inquiry, the driver has been removed from his current post, with officials noting that further action will be determined by the investigation’s findings.
The Mumbai unit of Congress party described the officer’s actions as a “direct attack on democratic rights,” asserting that “raising one’s voice is not a crime” and that students’ questions should be met with accountability rather than intimidation.
The incident follows mounting scrutiny over law enforcement tactics used to contain the CJP movement. Authorities have reportedly adopted “targeted direct-contact methods,” including digital tracking and doorstep visits to prevent repeat participation in demonstrations.
Protesters have reported receiving phone calls and messages from local police stations, with some instances of senior personnel instructing individuals to remain at home and continuously share their WhatsApp live location to confirm compliance.
Additionally, legal notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) have been issued digitally via messaging applications, directing recipients to appear for questioning regarding earlier gatherings.
