A video of a man physically abusing and pushing an elderly woman in the Kamathipura area went viral on social media on Thursday. The man identified as Vinod Argyle is reported to be an active member of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Meanhwile, the three MNS leaders Vinod Argyle, Raju Argyle, and Sandeep Lad have been arrested by Mumbai Police.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday when Argyle, was about to install an advertisement banner near the woman’s shop, without her consent.
Argyle, started a fight when the woman, identified as Prakash Devi, stopped him from putting the banner near her medical shop.
The police registered a case against Argyle and the other two men identified as Raju Argyle and Satish Lad, on Thursday while also conducting a medical examination on Devi.
“It started with an argument but gradually became physical when the man first slapped the woman. As the argument started heating up, the woman was then pushed down by him, and subsequently, a large crowd started gathering, while also filming the entire act,” said the official.
In the video, Argyle with a group of men is seen shoving and slapping the woman who falls down while also trying to fight back. As per the official, Argyle along with other men was putting up bamboo poles to install the hoardings when the woman asked them not to do so. As per Devi’s statement given to the police, they started abusing her at first for denying them which later turned into physical violence.
Keshav Mulay, a local MNS leader, while talking to a news agency said, “Viral video depicting Vinod Argyle is not complete, we are not supporting it. MNS respects women but that woman kicked our party’s banner and abused our party workers, which is edited out. Vinod Argyle also has temper issues. We have faith in the judicial system.”
The three are booked under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke break of the peace), and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), of the Indian Penal Code.
Despite multiple attempts to contact through calls and texts, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande was not available for comment.
