After three days, Mumbai police book woman after clash with Maharashtra minister
The petitioner alleged that the woman created a disturbance during the rally, used abusive language, and obstructed public servants while they were on duty
Mumbai Police have registered a complaint against a woman whose confrontation with Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan during a BJP rally in Worli went viral earlier this week, drawing widespread attention on social media.
The complaint was filed at the Worli police station on Wednesday (April 22) by Zen Sadavarte, daughter of advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte. In her complaint, she alleged that the woman created a disturbance during the rally, used abusive language, and obstructed public servants while they were on duty, thereby causing disruption to public order.
The viral video
The incident occurred on Tuesday (April 21), when the woman was seen shouting at Mahajan amid heavy traffic congestion caused by the rally. Visibly upset, she questioned the decision to hold the protest on a busy road and demanded that it be shifted to a nearby open ground. “Get out of here. You are causing a traffic jam,” she is heard saying in the video, which has since circulated widely online.
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The rally had been organised by the BJP to criticise Opposition parties following the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at fast-tracking the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The gathering, however, led to significant traffic disruption in the area, triggering frustration among commuters.
In the viral clip, the woman continues to express her anger, pointing out that commuters had been stranded for nearly an hour. She repeatedly urged the minister to move the rally, saying she needed to pick up her child and had already approached the police multiple times without relief. Despite attempts by Mahajan to calm her, she refused to back down, questioning why the protest could not be held in a designated ground instead of a public road.
‘Insult to public servants’
Sadavarte, in her complaint, argued that such behaviour amounted to an “insult to hard-working police officials, public representatives, and constitutional mechanisms,” and urged action under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections related to obstructing public servants, intentional insult, and acts that could lead to public mischief.
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Earlier, while criticising the woman’s language and alleging that she threw a bottle during the protest, he acknowledged that her anger was “justified to some extent” and ruled out filing any complaint against her.
Complaint against rally organisers
The episode has also put the spotlight back on the rally itself. Earlier, police had registered a case against the organisers for alleged violation of norms, raising questions about permissions and the impact of political protests on public convenience.
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On social media, the video has sparked a broader debate, with many users and Opposition leaders backing the woman for voicing the frustrations of stranded commuters. Others, however, have criticised the manner in which the confrontation unfolded.