BMC chief engineer (roads) Sanjay Darade was humiliated by a group of MNS leaders on Wednesday.

After chief engineer of the BMC's road's department Sanjay Darade was targeted by two MNS corporators earlier this week, sources close to Mr Darade said the incident had left him rattled. A friend of Mr Darade, who did not wish to reveal his identity, said the incident had not only humiliated the official, but also his family back in his village, who had been watching the whole incident live on television.

Mr Darade reportedly received a call from his father after he visited the Shivaji Park police station, asking him to return home. A colleague of Mr Darade said his father, who was 85, had become worried and upset, after he watched the incident on television. “His father called him, and asked him to leave everything in Mumbai and come back and join him in the village. The incident had completely shaken the morale of Darade’s father,” he said.

Mr Darade’s colleague also said the incident had created a feeling of distrust in him, as the two MNS corporators had sweet talked him into going to the spot in his own vehicle.

\"The two corporators assured Darade that they would not misbehave with him, and only wanted to conduct a spot visit with him. When he approached the spot, they made him stand in a pothole and hold the placard reading ‘I am responsible for the city's potholes,’” said the colleague.

Sainath Rajadhyaksha, general secretary of the BMC engineers' union, said, “We are all public servants who follow orders and work towards completing the work keeping public interest in mind. Politicians are custodians of public welfare, but they hold us to ransom like this.”

Another engineer who also chose to withhold his identity said, “If we are wrong, or we are not doing our work, there are proper channels to communicate this to the administration. Such public humiliation is illegal.”

Meanwhile, MNS corporators Sandeep Deshpande and Santosh Dhuri reported to the Shivaji Park police station Saturday evening. Deshpande was arrested and will be presented in court.

Speaking to The Asian Age, Deshpande said, “I have not sought bail as a mark of protest against the potholes in the city.” Scores of MNS party workers were seen protesting on Saturday.