Hawkers from Vile Parle on Sunday approached the Juhu police demanding that a first information report (FIR) be registered against BJP MLA Ameet Satam from Andheri West constituency for allegedly demanding money to allow them to continue their business. A video clip of Satam in which he is seen abusing and assaulting street hawkers in front of policemen has also gone viral. The one-minute video shows the MLA abusing hawkers who are made to sit on the ground, and later can be seen assaulting one of the hawkers.

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The Azad Hawkers Union gave an application to the Juhu police claiming that Satam sent "his men" last week demanding money to allow them to continue their business.

"We had earlier ignored the men who claimed to demand money on behalf of Satam. But on Sunday, we saw Satam in a furious mood as he assaulted members of our union," said Salma Shaikh, General Secretary, Azad Hawkers Union.

"Being an MLA does not give him the right to take the law into his own hands," said Shaikh.

Satam, however, refuted the allegations. "Cooking food on the street is a serious risk, which could take away lives if any untoward incident takes place. I have written several times to police and civic body to not allow hawkers on the streets, but they failed to take any action. This is the reason that I decided to take matters into my own hands so that the hawkers learn a lesson and do not come back and cook food."

CASE UPDATE

  • Juhu police have booked hawkers for using gas cylinders. No case was registered against Satam. "We have received the application. If necessary, a case will be registered against him, too," said a senior police officer.