The ugly side of the Central Railways authorities came to light on Monday when a video and a post of a youth being manhandled by a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Mulund railway station went viral on Facebook.
Sharan Malhotra, a student of Ruia College, Matunga was on his way to hand over an assignment to a friend on platform number 2 of Mulund station. On his way back, he was caught by the TTE for not buying a platform ticket.
In his post on Facebook, he said, "The TC had a valid point. I should have bought a platform ticket of Rs 10 even if I wanted to just enter the railway station and stand on the platform. I agreed to pay the fine. He took me to his main office, which had two TCs and one head TC, and four other violators."
Malhotra agreed to pay the fine but realised he did not have enough money, so he requested one of the TTEs to accompany him to the ATM. However, he was asked to leave his wallet and mobile phone as security. Instead, he agreed to leave his bag. Outraged, the TTE allegedly started shouting and manhandling him. Malhotra responded in kind and recorded the incident.
In his post, he further said, "The TC called a two-star Railway Protection Force (RPF) officer along with three others while I was shouting and shooting the video. They all came and heard my complaint but when I conveyed to him that even though I agreed to pay the fine, the TC had pushed me, everyone went silent. I was irked by the fact that I was pushed and asked to leave my valuables behind. When I asked the TC to apologise, one of them said, 'we behave like this with women as well. Who are you?' Two of them even said on record that I was pushed and manhandled, which can be seen in the video." Malhotra told DNA.
He further added, "Soon after, the RPF officer brought the situation under control and accompanied me to the ATM where I withdrew money, and later paid the fine. However, when I came back to the office, they asked me for my phone. Even after deleting the two videos of the whole ruckus in front of them, they snatched my phone and scrolled through all the files." The files were stored in his 'recently deleted' folder from where they were later recovered.
Malhotra then complained to Ravindra Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway, about the incident. He received a response from Goyal, through WhatsApp, and he was assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the
incident.
Sachin Bhalode, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner of Central Railway (CR) said, "We have gone through the post and spoken to Malhotra as well. We will take necessary action after verifying the incident."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Sharan Malhotra")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}