New Delhi: On August 19, a video on social media went viral where a scribe was seen lifting an Ola driver and slamming him to the ground after his Audi car was hit by the cabbie. The police registered an FIR and arrested the accused journalist after around a week of the incident.
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has now taken suo motu cognisance of the Mumbai police’s alleged failure to take proper action following the thrashing of the Ola driver, a Free Press Journal report said.
Taking note of the alleged police inaction, the rights body summoned senior cops and sought their response in the matter. The FPJ report had earlier highlighted police’s alleged negligence as they tried to shield the accused by claiming that the incident happened in a “fit of rage.”
The SHRC, in its complaint, noted that “the failure of the police authority to act appropriately in this matter amounts to a violation of the human rights of the public at large.” Consequently, the commission has decided to take up the matter as a suo motu complaint. The panel’s decision comes after a news report highlighted the cops’ alleged negligence and their attempt to protect the accused, asserting that the incident was merely a result of a “fit of rage”.
In its complaint, the rights body took strong exception to the assault case and pointed out “the failure of the police authority to act appropriately in this matter amounts to a violation of the human rights of the public at large”. The SHRC has taken up the matter as a suo motu complaint.
DCP, ACP summoned by SHRC
The SHRC has called Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone VII, Mumbai, and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) who oversee the Ghatkopar police station. The rights panel has issued directions to these top cops to carry out a detailed investigation into the case and file an affidavit by October 1. Besides, the victim has to be apprised by the DCP of the SHRC order, and give him a chance to present his version to the commission. The order was issued by a division bench which was presided over by Justices KK Tated and Sanjay Kumar.
The incident took place at the Parksite area in Ghatkopar. The man who allegedly assaulted the 24-year-old Ola driver Kaimuddin Quereshi was later identified as Rishabh Chakravorthy. In the footage, Chakravorthy, a journalist, can be seen slapping and then lifting the driver and banging him on the ground. The driver sustained head injuries, and was admitted to the ICU at JJ Hospital. He was recently discharged.
It was only after public outcry and pressure that the Parksite Police were forced to register an FIR against Chakravorthy and his wife, Antara Ghosh.
