Passengers travelling on Mumbai-Nashik highway beaten up by toll naka staff

Passengers travelling on the Mumbai-Nashik highway were allegedly beaten up by the toll staff on Sunday evening after an altercation over a trivial matter. At the time of going to press, no police complaint had been registered in the Padgha police station about the incident. However, the video of the incident has gone viral.

According to toll supervisor Sameer Shaikh, about 8-10 youth had reached the Padgha naka in a Tavera from Nashik side at around 6.40 pm. “They were asked by the staff to show the slip issued by the earlier naka . While they were presenting the slip, it fell down, and our toll attendant asked them to lift it. The driver refused and so did our attendant. This resulted in an argument and a scuffle. We asked them to leave. They went a few metres ahead and attacked our staff with a tile. Then our boys got agitated and attacked them. Both sides beat up each other before the vehicle left the naka,’’ Shaikh said.


Sources in the police said other motorists who tried to intervene were also attacked by the toll staff. The employees of the Mumbai Nashik Expressway Limited did not report the matter.

“We did not approach the police. But after video clip of the incident went viral, I am headed to the police station to file FIR so that we are on safe side. I have all the CCTV footage,’’said Shaikh, and adding that he could not note down the number of the vehicle as it was written in Marathi.

The Mumbai-Nashik Expressway Limited’s project in charge Anirudh Singh said, “I want to see the complete video and then comment.’’

The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Padgha police. Its inspector Suresh Manore said, “There is no complaint so far. I appeal to those who have been beaten up to come forward and complain to Padgha police so that we can register the FIR. The staff at toll naka tells us that there was a dispute, and when one employee asked for the toll, they shut the car’s window and the toll employee’s hand was trapped.’’

The Mumbai-Nashik expressway was widened by Gammon Infra and Sadbhavana Engineering and the project was sold to Peak Infrastructure in 2016. Prashant Khodaskar, executive engineer of the National Highway Authority of India, said that he was not aware of this incident. “Probably, the occupants were drunk. I have called for the CCTV footage from the toll naka.’’

Sources in NHAI said that some staff members come from Padgha village, which has many antisocial elements. The Thane district police has failed so far to take action against such staff.

“We have the best facilities on the expressway. For the eunuch menace, we have written to the local police to help,’’ said Singh.