Turbhe Police took revenge, brutally assaults Engineer for previous complaints and paying less bribe

Ranjit Mahanti

MOHIT Bhardwaj 42, an innocent person was brutally beaten up by three police officials with wooden sticks, shoes, fist and hands inside Turbhe police station for no reason. To save their skin officials also arrested Bhardwaj for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty.

The accused officials identified as Senior Police Inspector Shekhar Bagade, Assistant Police Inspector (API) Madhav Suryavanshi, Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Kasam Naik and one constable. Highly educated Mohit Bhardwaj is a Chartered Chief Engineer and Shipping/Financial Consultant.

The incident occurred on December 17, 2014 around 8pm. Bhardwaj a resident of Oberoi Splendor, Andheri (East), has another flat at Shivner Plaza, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai. Bhardwaj has some dispute with his in-laws. His in-law’s flat is also in same building. Bhardwaj was waiting for a friend sitting on security guard’s chair below building. Suddenly two constables appeared there. They asked Bhardwaj to come in police station saying his wife Samita Bhardwaj has complained on police helpline number 100.

Bhardwaj pacified them and took them up to his in-laws house to prove that he is known person in the building, and then sat with in-law’s neighbors with his wife and then constables left.

A little later Suryavanshi appeared there with Naik and some constables. Without saying anything Naik pushed Bhardwaj in police jeep like a sack of potato. As Bhardwaj sat in jeep trio started thrashing him saying, ‘mad…c…od’ bahut complaint karta hai mere khilaf, ki main jhuta FIR karta hu. Bahut jaata hai CP, DCP ke pass. Tujhe dikhata hu complaint karne ka kya result hota hai. Saala Yogesh Bhardwaj ka passport farji hai uska complaint karta hai. Uska passport farji hai to tere ko kya? Hamara kaam badhata hai?

After reaching police station Bhardwaj got down from jeep and rushed to Senior Inspector Shekhar Bagade’s cabin. Bhardwaj tried to tell him about police torture inside jeep but Bagade himself ordered Suryavanshi to take him and teach lesson. Suryavanshi took Bhardwaj inside police station and started abusing in filthy language like- saala hizda. Biwi idahr-udahr jati hai. Biwi ko sambhal nahi sakta. Saala bahut pahle marna tha tere ko. Aaj mauka mila. Bahut dekhe tere jaise. Ab ja jidhar jane ka hai.

Suryavanshi, Kasam Naik and constable started beating Bhardwaj with wooden sticks, shoes, fist and hands and kept beating him for 2 hours. They took away his mobile phone so that he could not contact anyone. However, Bhardwaj managed to inform his few friends about the torture. The friends immediate SMSed to Chief Minister Devendra Phadnavis, CM’s personal assistant Satish Lalit, Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Dayal, Commissioner of Police K L Prasad, Zonal DCP and few others. Prasad ordered that Bhardwaj be taken to hospital. After that officials stopped beating Bhardwaj. 

According to sources after that police called Samita Bhardwaj and mother in-law at night in police station and forced to register NC (anything) against Bhardwaj but they refused to register complaint saying they said they have no complaint. Not finding any option, police registered FIR under section 353 (Assault or Criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) against him. Interestingly Naik produced as complainant and Suryavanshi as investigating officer into the matter. FIR was registered around 4am on December 18, 2014 and Bhardwaj was arrested. Few hours later Bhardwaj was produced in Belapur court before Joint Civil Judge Yashshri Prakash Marulkar where judge granted him bail of Rs 15,000.

Bhardwaj also complained to judge that he was brutally beaten at police station. On suggestion (four days judicial custody) of judge Bhardwaj withdrawn official complaint as he was not feeling well.

Interestingly, when Bhardwaj was being produced at hospital and court Shekhar Bagde suggested you claim that your wife (Samita) has beaten you. Suryavanshi, one of the corrupt officers in Navi Mumbai police begged Bhardwaj to do not disclose his name, blame on Turbhe police or Senior Inspector Shekhar Bagade. Claim that you fell down. But Bhardwaj dared and showed injures to doctor, bystanders and also judge.

After getting bail Bhardwaj and others met Commissioner of Police K L Prasad. Prasad was shocked after watching the injuries of Bhardwaj on body which he had seen on WhatsApp earlier. Prasad was also misleaded by Turbhe police about Bhardwaj’s innocence. After an audio recording (ABI have copy) of Suryavashi in which he was threatening, “Kutraya sarkha marnar tyala, koni lawyer la annu naka” Prasad assured Bhardwaj that he will take necessary action on culprit police personnel.

Prasad personally apologized Bhardwaj on acts of Turbhe police on behalf of entire Navi Mumbai police, accepting that what happened is absolutely wrong.

“I am thankful to Mr. K L Prasad who assured me, my family and friends for action on accused police officials,” said Bhardwaj.

Sources said Senior Inspector Shekhar Bagade was unhappy with Bhardwaj as he had paid only Rs 50,000 bribe for a B-Summary matter. Bagade had demanded Rs 2, 00, 000 saying that Bhardwaj moved in expensive cars and has posh life style.

“This is true Bagade had registered false FIR’s against me earlier. I had complained against Suryavashi as he was investigation officer for false FIR of dowry and unnatural sex. After investigation police filed B-Summary (False and maliciously made FIR) into the matter. Then Bagade had demanded Rs 2,00,000 to file B-Summary in another matter pertaining to theft of mobile phone and watch, but I had paid Rs. only 50, 000 in two installments,” said Bhardwaj.

Officials Speak

“There is nothing like that. We had detained him because he was attacking the police officials,” said Shekhar Bagade, Senior Inspector Turbhe police station. When ABI (abinet.org) asked why Mohit Bhardwaj was beaten so badly Bagade had no answer. All the time he asked to come at police station. We will talk face to face. Bagade also rubbished the claim in which he demanded Rs. 2, 00,000 and took Rs. 50,000.

API Madhav Suryavanshi, who is main accused into the matter, also had no proper answer. He failed to clearly explain why Mohit Bhardwaj was beaten so badly. He gave several excuses. “I had received complaints of his wife, mother-in-law, father-in-law and society members,” said Suryavanshi. Later Suryavanshi said, “I had received oral complaints of society members and will record their statement.”