NCP (SP) MLA dragged by Mumbai cops during protest, booked for obstructing duty  

The Mumbai Police on Friday registered a case against NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad and others for obstructing public servants in discharging their duty while staging a protest at the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, an official said.

Awhad was dragged by the police in the wee hours of the day during his protest against the detention of his supporter Nitin Deshmukh, who was assaulted by supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar during a scuffle in the building a day before.

The MLA physically blocked the police vehicle, demanding Deshmukh's release, alleging biased action by the law enforcement officials.

A police official said that Awhad sat in front of a police vehicle at Vidhan Bhavan when his supporter was being taken to the police station.

When he did not move despite repeated requests, he was dragged away by police officials, he said.

A case has been registered against the legislator at the Marine Drive police station for obstructing public servants in discharging their duty, he said.

Meanwhile, MLA Rohit Pawar went to the Azad Maidan police station along with Awhad to visit Nitin Deshmukh and had a heated exchange with a police officer earlier in the day.

Pawar and Awhad, along with their supporters, visited the Azad Maidan police station to enquire about Nitin.

Speaking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhavan, Pawar claimed a police officer at the Azad Maidan police station did not give proper information and allegedly raised his voice, which led to an argument.

In a video that surfaced on social media, Pawar is seen shouting at a police officer.

"Don't raise your voice, if you are not able to speak, don't speak," he is heard saying during the argument.

Pawar and Awhad had come to the police station to make an enquiry, later they met Nitin at the state-run JJ Hospital, an official said.