Vanmali was roughed up and dragged out of his cabin to commissioner A D Kale's office, where he was again showered with abuses in front of his boss.

The attack was the result of demolition of an ornately-done water fountain `Maasaheb Meenatai Thackeray Pyaau' outside the Radha Swami Satsang premises in Camp three of the township.

On February 8, the DMC had led his squad to demolish an illegal structure at an RPI office at Subhash Nagar. Following this, RPI workers led by corporator P O Sonawane staged a hunger strike demanding to know why UMC had spared the illegal water fountain obstructing the road. ``Since we had already sent a notice about the fountain and nobody could furnish papers to prove its authorisation, I decided todemolish it,'' Vanmali said.

Soon as he returned to the office after the demolition, the two Sena corporators barged in with a group of Sainiks, who began flinging chairs around. ``I was slapped and pushed around while being led to Kale's office,'' Vanmali pointed out, adding, ``the constables on duty outside my cabin were mute spectators to all this.'' He also alleged the corporators used foul language in front of the commissioner.

Sambhaji Patil admitted he had barged into the DMC's cabin to demand an explanation, but claimed Vanmali was exaggerating the intensity of the attack. ``We went to ask him why he had destroyed Gods' icons during the demolition,'' he said, adding, ``He broke the saffron flag staff. This is intolerable.'' However, Vanmali denied there was any flag at all and said it was impossible to demolish the structure without damaging tiles on the wall which bore portraits of Gods.

Asked why he had not lodged a police complaint after the attack, the DMC said: ``When constables on dutyhere couldn't do anything, do you think a police complaint would help? I'm a government servant and it's up to the commissioner to complain to police and ensure I get protection.'' He feared that under the circumstances, it would be difficult for him to venture out for field work. ``Those who can attack an official in his own office with impunity can go to any limits outside,'' he added.

Commissioner Kale said he was awaiting a detailed report on the matter and would only later decide on steps to be taken.