Dhoble, cops violated human rights: PIL

More trouble seems to be brewing for Vasant Dhoble, assistant commissioner of police, social services branch.

Pune-based entrepreneur Tehseen Poonawala on Monday submitted a petition against Dhoble to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging that while raiding eateries in Mumbai under the pretext of unlawful activities, the police are violating the fundamental rights of the victims by assaulting them.

Poonawala said the NHRC has accepted his petition and stated that prima facie there has been a human rights violation by the Mumbai police. They will conduct a meeting to decide the future course of action and ask the Mumbai commissioner of police to explain why this kind of violation was carried out.

On April 15, Dhoble and his team raided Amar Juice Centre in Vile Parle for staying open past deadline and reportedly bashed up the manager with hockey sticks. This is in violation of the fundamental rights of a citizen under Article 21 of the Constitution, the PIL said.

“I am not saying that the juice centre was not doing anything illegal, but there is a procedure under which the police can request to cancel the licence of the eatery,” said Poonawala.

“Now when I come to Mumbai most of my friends are afraid of going out at night to a restaurant as they are scared of being assaulted or being branded as prostitutes.”