Maharashtra HM backs suspended cop, says MLAs should introspect

In a flip-flop of sorts, Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil on Tuesday spoke out in defence of suspended Mumbai police officer Sachin Suryavanshi, who was beaten up by MLAs. According to TimesNow, Patil said, “MLAs must introspect on the assault Suryavanshi was subjected to.” “One Suryawanshi does not represent all policemen. And the attacking MLAs don’t represent all legislators”, he had said, according to CNN-IBN. [caption id=“attachment_675510” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  IBNLive[/caption] On Monday, Home Minister RR Patil was reported as saying in the Maharashtra state assembly that the police official would remain suspended until the investigation into the matter was completed. The state home minister said that the suspension was on account of allegations that he had used foul language against the MLA Kshitij Thakur after stopping him for speeding on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, ABP Majha News tweeted. Five MLAs had been suspended till 31 December for beating up ASP Suryavanshi last week. But now, some MLAs are demanding that action be taken against Suryavanshi instead. On 20 March, an FIR had been registered against Vasai MLA Kshitij Thakur and MNS legislator Ram Kadam (MNS) and fourteen others for allegedly beating Suryavanshi in the state assembly premises, police said. “As per the complaint by the victim — Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin — attached to the Worli police station, the FIR was registered at Marine Drive police station against MLAs Kshitij Thakur, Ram Kadam and around 14 others,” a police officer said.