AAP ‘volunteer’ held for assaulting govt official

A volunteer purportedly from RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal's recently launched Aam Aadmi Party was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly manhandling and abusing a government official in Churchgate.

According to the Marine Drive police, the accused, Vishnu Raikar (34), reached the office of the Ashwini Joshi, the chief controller of the rationing department in the Royal Insurance Building in Churchgate, at around 1:30 pm on Wednesday. Raikar allegedly demanded a meeting with her, saying that he had some important issues of the common man to discuss with her. He was wearing a white cap with the Aam Aadmi Party logo on it, said the police.

Joshi's personal assistant, Nitish Gawande, told Raikar that meeting hours were between 3:00 to 5:00 pm, and that he would have to either wait, or come back later.

"Raikar insisted on meeting Joshi and tried to barge into her cabin. Gawande stood in his way and tried to stop him, after which Raikar pushed and abused him," said senior police inspector Zunjarrao Gharal, Marine Drive police station.

Gawande then called the police and a team reached the spot. Raikar was taken to the police station and subsequently placed under arrest. He was charged for assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty.

"Raikar was produced in court on Wednesday afternoon and was granted bail," Inspector A Kamble of Marine Drive police station added.

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