Probe Ordered Into Cop’s Alleged Threat to Plant Drugs on Student Protesters

Mumbai Police have ordered an inquiry against a police officer after a viral video purportedly showed him threatening to implicate protesting students in fabricated drug cases if they continued their agitation. The video sparked widespread outrage on social media, drawing criticism of both the police and the state government.

A Maharashtra Congress delegation, led by state president Harshawardhan Sapkal, met Director General of Police (DGP) Sadanand Date and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti on Thursday, demanding action against the officer seen in the video. In a memorandum submitted to the police, the Congress also sought the immediate release of students detained in Mumbai.

The party alleged that the preventive detention of students was undemocratic and illegal, and accused the police of misusing preventive provisions to register false FIRs against protesters.

In the viral video, the officer is heard threatening the students with fabricated drug charges if they returned to continue their protest. “If I see you around here again, then you will not find a bad person like me. I will directly plant 50-50 grams of powder in your bags. Then your life is gone. You won’t get bail. We are in trouble because of you all. Don’t come back,” the officer is heard telling two youths in the video.

The conversation appears to have taken place inside a vehicle, with the officer seated in the driver's seat. Two youths are seen recording the interaction and laughing during the exchange. The video was shared by the Mumbai Congress on its official X handle.

A senior Home Department official said, “Mumbai Police have ordered an inquiry into the matter, and appropriate action will be taken after the facts are verified. The concerned driver has been removed from his current posting pending completion of the inquiry.”

According to sources, the officer was attached to the Motor Transport Department and is currently posted at Sion Police Station. He has reportedly been identified as Pawan Sangle. However, this newspaper could not independently verify his identity, as neither the Home Department nor Mumbai Police responded to requests for confirmation.