Video of cops beating man and woman goes viral, probe launched

A video clip purportedly showing a man and a woman being allegedly thrashed by policemen inside a police station has gone viral on social media, prompting senior officers to initiate a probe.
The two, who work at a call centre in suburban Malad, were seen in the video being manhandled by some personnel inside the Andheri Police Station.
The Andheri Police, however, claimed the duo was in an inebriated condition and had a scuffle with each other on the night of November 1 and that cops only tried to pacify them.
"They were under heavy influence of alcohol and fighting with each other on the road near Andheri Metro Station. Both were then brought to the police station, but the two again started the scuffle. Police just did the duty to separate them while they were fighting," Andheri Police Station's senior inspector Nandkumar Dhumal said.

The man was trying to get hold of the woman, while the policemen tried to restrain him and the video was shot at that particular moment, Dhumal said alleging that the clip was recorded to tarnish the reputation of the police.
An inquiry has been initiated in the matter, he said.

No case was lodged against the man and the woman. A station-house diary was made and their statements were recorded, he said.
Their parents were called to the police station and both were later released after being given a warning, he said.
The woman is a resident of suburban Nalasopara while the man lives in Byculla in South Mumbai, police added.

There have been similar incidents in the recent past also in Mumbai.
In September, a girl was allegedly beaten up by some women constables at the famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal here during the Ganesh festival.
As the video of that incident went viral on social media sparking widespread public outcry Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised action against the guilty. Subsequently, two women constables were suspended.
Prior to it, in August, the then Mumbai Police chief had ordered an inquiry into the raids by police in city's Madh Island and Aksa area on August 6 in which 13 couples and 35 other people were rounded up, drawing flak from the public.