The victim says the two accused thrashed him without any provocation and also damaged his car. He has also blamed the police of trying to hush up the issue
In another instance of ostensible ostentation and high-handedness by politicians or their kin, two nephews of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Mumbai president and Member of Parliament Sanjay Dina Patil allegedly thrashed the owner of a transport business.
What’s worse the victim claims cops initially refused to lodge a complaint, and when they eventually did it was under moderate sections of IPC. Brij Navin Bhanushali (21), a resident of Arvi Towers in Saptarashi Park, Yogi Hills, Mulund (West), says he was attacked by Kaushik and Pratik Patil, sons of Sanjay Patil’s elder brother.
“I was travelling with my friends Aditya Gupta and Chintan Thakkar when we were stopped by Kaushik and Pratik, who asked me to call Chintu — a friend of Kaushik and I. As I made the call, Kaushik started beating me up for no reason. He later broke the windshield of my Hyundai i20.
The duo then insisted that I address Kaushik as ‘Bhau’ and Pratik as ‘Dada’. When I refused they again slapped me, and later threatened me over the phone. They claimed that police would not dare to act against them,” said Bhanushali.
The matter has emerged within days of two MLAs allegedly assaulting a traffic cop at Vidhan Bhavan. Bhanushali says when he approached Mulund police, officials evaded him initially, but later registered a complaint only under section 324 of IPC.
“There was another complainant Motu Singh, who was attacked with a blade by Kaushik Patil and his associate Siddhant Sharma. A common FIR was lodged for both of us under section 324 of IPC. They did not apply section 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) or 307 (attempt to murder),” Bhanushali added.
While the businessman was allegedly attacked on March 24, he claims Mulund police did not make any attempt to arrest the accused, who were threatening him till Wednesday. They finally surrendered yesterday and got bail in a few hours. Those arrested were Kaushik Patil, Pratik Patil and Siddhant Sharma.
When MiD DAY contacted Sanjay Dina Patil, the MP said he was aware that a non- cognisable complaint had been registered, but did not know what happened afterwards. Mulund police refused to comment on the matter. “I am unaware of the incident,” said assistant commissioner of police of the area Vasant Tajne.
