Pune: BJP MLA Sunil Kamble Booked For Slapping Policeman At Sassoon Hospital Event
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 6th January 2024: A case has been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sunil Kamble at Bundgarden Police Station in Pune for allegedly slapping a policeman during a program organized at Sassoon Hospital. The incident took place in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, sparking widespread condemnation from various quarters. Notably, MLA Kamble also reportedly slapped an official from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) during the same event.
The program marked the inauguration of a special ward for tertiary care at Sassoon Hospital in Pune. Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar officiated the ceremony on January 5 (Friday). The dignitaries present included Minister Hasan Mushrif, Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, MP Sunil Tatkare, MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, Sassoon Hospital dean Vinayak Kale, and other officials.
The controversy emerged when Sunil Kamble, visibly upset that his name was not included on the cornerstone at the event venue, slapped a policeman while descending from the platform after the program. The motives behind this act remain unclear. Subsequently, Kamble expressed his displeasure to District Collector Rajesh Deshmukh.
Based on the complaint filed by Policeman Shivaji Nagnath Sarak (35), an FIR has been registered against MLA Sunil Kamble at Bundgarden police station. He is charged with the offence under section 353 (obstructing a public servant from discharging official duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The incident occurred around 11:30 am on Friday.
“I was standing for the protection of VIPs. While coming down from the stage, MLA Kamble’s leg got stuck, and I held him (to protect). However, he slapped me, even after seeing my police ID card, which I was wearing. When I told him I am a policeman, he said loudly ‘so what’,” the policeman stated in his complaint.
