I'm not mentally challenged, says girl 'manhandled' by cops at Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal

Mumbai: A girl, whose video of being "manhandled" by some women constables at the famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal here went viral prompting police to launch a probe, Tuesday alleged she was dragged and slapped by cops when she tried to enter the pandal's VVIP queue on Friday last.

The victim, identified as Nandini Goswami, rubbished police claims that the video clip was an old one and also talk about her being mentally disturbed or depressed.

"It isn't an old video, as claimed by the cops and I am not a mentally challenged or depressed," she told reporters here today.

"I, along with my relatives, had tried to enter in the VVIP queue at Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Pandal, after which the incident took place (on Friday). The cops had hurled abuses on me and my relatives, which led to an argument with them," Goswami said.

The girl, believed to be in her early 20s, said while she was arguing with the cops, suddenly a woman constable began bashing her and others too followed.

"Subsequently, I was dragged into the pandal and then taken to police station where again I was slapped by the cops," she claimed.

According to DCP (Detection-I) Mohan Dahikar, the matter is being probed by Zonal DCP Ashok Dudhe.

Also, the police would be recording the statement of the victim and the constables besides checking the CCTV footage of the spot.

Yesterday, after the 30-second video went viral and sparked a public outrage, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said, "This is a serious matter. The guilty won't be spared."

"We have called for a report from the police within 48 hours. In these 48 hours, we will also ensure that action is taken if anybody is found to be guilty. This is a very serious incident and we will ensure that no person who is guilty of manhandling is spared," he had said.

Last evening, the police had said that the initial probe suggested that the video seems to be old and had indicated that the incident may have taken place earlier and not on last Friday.

However, police had also asserted that they would not

want to come to any conclusion before the probe report is submitted.

Also, according to a police officer, the footage which has gone viral showed only one side of the story - what happened inside the gate.

"In her attempt to get inside, the girl had misbehaved with those cops. She threatened them that she has a black belt in karate. All the time she kept hurling abuse at the three women constables," he had said yesterday.

Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal in central Mumbai attracts lakhs of devotees during the 10-day Ganesh festival which ended on Sunday.