Police inspector Prakash Choughule asks woman to go make money in Kamathipura instead of protesting against power-drunk builder Subhash Runwal

Krishna Pujari

PRAKASH Chaugule, a police inspector (PI) at the Parksite police station in Vikhroli, is accused of molesting a woman who was involved in a protest against cheater builder Subhash Runwal’s illegalities and goondagardi. Chaugule is accused of having thrashed the woman, pushed her on her breast and abused her, while mockingly suggesting to her to go to the infamous red light area of Kamathipura to make some fast money as Subhash Runwal was not able to give her anything.

On September 18, the woman filed a written complaint (copy available with ABI) with Commissioner of Police against Chaugule.

The complainant lives in the Indian Smelting & Refining Company Ltd colony, Kanjurmarg (West), which was earlier owned by the Birla group. Runwal purchased the company a few years ago and wanted to remove the families from the colony. There are 77 families residing in the colony.

He is adopting all ways to empty the colony of its residents. It is learnt that Runwal has appointed goondas, namely Amit Bhogale, Krishna Lad, Rajesh Pujari, Bhau Korgaonkar, and used officers of the Parksite police station to torture the residents and molest the women among them. Inspector Chaugule is one of the police officers who is said to be on the payroll of Runwal. A Shiv Sena MLA also protecting him claiming he is partner of notorious builder Subhash Runwal.

On September 15, around 3.30 pm, Runwal tried to demolish a colony building without having any BMC order and despite the matter being sub judice. The colony residents opposed Runwal’s activities. A little later Inspector Chaugule appeared at the spot with a few police personnel. Instead of taking action on the builder’s men, Chaugule attacked the protesting women. He terrorized the demonstrators. He thrashed a young boy, who sustained minor injuries. He held a woman’s hand and pushed her back. Abusing her in very filthy language, Chaugule also applied pressure on the woman’s breast.

“Chaugule pushed my hand back. He abused me in very filthy language stating, ‘Paisa kamana hai to Kamathipura me jao. Bahut kamai hogi. Subhash Runwal tum logon ko kuchh nahin dene wala. Wo bahut bada builder hai. Usne BJP ke leaders ko kharid liya hai. Dekhna 30 September ko poori colony tod dega,’” said a woman.

The protesting women then approached the Parksite police station but the police refused to register a complaint against Chaugule.

“All allegations are false. I am ready to face any inquiry. If they have evidence then they should come forward with it. Runwal builder was trying to demolish the colony. The women opposed it, threatening to commit suicide and pouring kerosene on themselves. To maintain law and order, the police stopped the demolition,” Chaugule said.

“Subhash Runwal, a Local Shiv Sena leader and Parksite police are crossing their limits. They are forgetting that matter is sub judice. Inspector Chaugule is acting like a ‘pimp’ of Runwal not a police officer. He will be behind bar soon,” said Sudhir Singh, Vice President of NCP Youth wing.