India, July 24 -- The Mumbai Police on Thursday ordered a probe and removed a police driver from the duty roster after a viral video purportedly showed him threatening student protesters with false narcotics charges if they returned to demonstrate. The incident sparked a fierce political backlash, with the Congress accusing the state government of indulging in "hooliganism in khaki" to crush democratic dissent. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also handles the Home portfolio, condemned the policeman's act, calling it "completely wrong". He added that immediate action has been taken against him and the matter is being investigated.
In the widely shared 25-second clip, a police driver is seen telling two detained youths that they would face fabricated drug cases if they participated in further protests. "If I find you here again, I will put 50 grams of 'powder' in your pocket. You won't get bail, and your entire life will be ruined. We are facing a lot of difficulties because of you people," the driver in the video reportedly told the students. Taking serious note of the viral video, a senior police official said that an inquiry has been initiated into the matter. "After verifying the facts, the driver concerned has been removed from his present posting till the completion of the inquiry," the official said. The video drew sharp condemnation from the Maharashtra Congress, which demanded a high-level investigation into the conduct of the police force. Highlighting the clip on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Mumbai Congress stated, "If this is true, it's not just an attempt to intimidate students, but a direct attack on democratic rights. Raising one's voice is not a crime. Students' questions should be answered with accountability, not threats."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.