Police nabs four for allegedly attacking journalist

Mumbai: The Gamdevi police has nabbed four persons for allegedly attacking a television journalist after he alighted from a cab. The police said that the accused were under the influence of alcohol when they tried to hire the preoccupied cab which led to the spat.

According to the police, journalist Herman Gomes alighted from the cab at Gamdevi while his friend remained inside to continue his journey to Byculla. The accused occupied the cab despite Mr Gomes’ friend’s presence, which led to a heated argument.

The accused were identified as Nilesh Khedekar (20); Hemant Chougule (30); Siddhesh Parab (19); and Avinash Aamle (26) – all residents of Malabar Hill and Tardeo areas.

The officials said that the group had consumed alcohol and were waiting to hire a cab. Soon after they saw Mr Gomes alighting from the cab, they entered it only to be told off by his friend who was sitting inside. This led to a verbal spat among them and they allegedly started thrashing the occupant. Mr Gomes had gone a few steps ahead but after hearing the fracas, he returned and at that point the accused attacked him.

The victims rushed to the Gamdevi police station, where the police began the process of registering a FIR. Sources said that Mr Gomes was reluctant to go for a medical examination and he misled the police saying that the accused assaulted him with knuckle dusters.

Deputy commissioner of police Rashmi Karand-ikar, reached the police station soon after Mr Gomes reported the incident. She then took him to Bhatia Hospital for medical examination.

“While we acted swiftly, Mr Gomes was never asked for any proof of the assault by any policeman, as he claimed earlier. There must have been some miscommunication which led to this confusion," said Pravin Padwal, additional commissioner of police (south region).

The police, through CCTV footage, identified the accused who were arrested and produced before the court, which remanded them to police custody.