• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Mumbai Police on Friday said that it has taken a suo motu cognisance of the incident where Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad slapped an MLA canteen staffer for alleged poor quality.

The Marine Drive police station is in the process of registering a case against Gaikwad, the Mumbai Police said. The action came after the video of the incident went viral on social media, causing widespread criticism of Gaikwad.

However, no additional information have been provided by the police such as the charges to be pressed against the MLA. Gaikwad was staying at the guest house and had ordered a dal which, according to him, was stinking. This infuriated him and he rushed to the canteen in a towel. The Shinde Sena lawmaker then assaulted the canteen worker by punching him in the face.

ALSO READ: ‘My Action Brought Change’: Shiv Sena MLA Day After Assaulting Canteen Worker Over Food Quality

Gaikwad didn't bow down on being asked about the incident and said he didn't regret the act and that he would repeat the action if required. Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis condemned the act and asserted that the behaviour was inappropriate.

"Such conduct does not behove anyone. It impacts the image of the state legislature, and as an MLA," he said."A wrong message goes among people about all MLAs that there is misuse of power," he added.

The government also took action against the canteen over the quality of food. The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Wednesday evening suspended the licence of the caterer that operates the canteen, saying violations of the food safety norms were found during an inspection at the facility earlier in the day.

ALSO READ: 'South Indians Run Dance Bars, Spoil Culture': Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's Fresh Slur After Slapgate

Two days after assaulting the canteen staffer and a day after license cancellation, Gaikwad on Thursday was heard defending his act, saying that there were 200 to 400 complaints in the last four to five years against the canteen, but the FDA did not act. "FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal himself told me that even after he asked officials to take action, he did not receive reports for two to three months. The question arises - who are all involved, and what is the nexus?"

He added, "My action brought about the change. What I did would help all the Marathi people," the Shiv Sena leader said.