After a viral video of a police driver threatening to "plant powder" on detained protesters was met with outrage online, Mumbai Police on July 23 suspended the man and ordered an inquiry. The incident happened amid the Cockroach Janata Party protests … Read on blog or Reader Alt News Read on blog or Reader Mumbai cop threatens youth protestors of framing them in fake drug cases; shunted after video goes viral By Shinjinee Majumder on 25th July 2026 After a viral video of a police driver threatening to "plant powder" on detained protesters was met with outrage online, Mumbai Police on July 23 suspended the man and ordered an inquiry. The incident happened amid the Cockroach Janata Party protests demanding the resignation of Union education minister owing to the paper leaks and irregularities in NEET. Protests have taken place in several cities, starting from Delhi's Jantar Mantar, and spreading to Mumbai, Patna, Bangalore, Pune and Kolkata. In the video, shot by protestors sitting inside a police van, the driver is heard saying: “Idhar wapas idhar kidhar mila to mere jaisa bekaar aadmi koi nahin hoga… main direct 50-50 gram powder dalega aapke jeb me phir gaya phir zindagi gaya -- no jamin. tumlog ke wajah se humareko takleef hain” (Translation: If I see you around again, there won’t be anyone worse than me. I will plant 50 grams of powder in your pockets, and it will ensure your life gets ruined --- no bail. We are in trouble because of you.) Mumbai Congress' official handle posted the video on X and said, "If this is true, it's not just an attempt to intimidate students, but a direct attack on democratic rights. Raising one's voice is not a crime. Students' questions should be answered with accountability, not threats." एक वायरल वीडियो में दावा किया गया है कि @MumbaiPolice प्रदर्शन कर रहे छात्रों को धमका रही है कि अगर वे दोबारा प्रदर्शन करने लौटे, तो उन्हें झूठे ड्रग्स के मामले में फँसा दिया जाएगा और पूरी ज़िंदगी जेल में सड़ना पड़ेगा। अगर यह सच है, तो यह सिर्फ़ छात्रों को डराने की कोशिश नहीं,… pic.twitter.com/36KescEmro — Mumbai Congress (@INCMumbai) July 23, 2026 The policeman in question was identified as Pawan Sangle. According to a Hindustan Times report, Sangle is a driver with the Mumbai Police's Motor Transport (MT) department and is currently posted at Sion police station. He was present at Shivaji Park as part of the team accompanying senior officers during the protests on July 22. Pending the inquiry, he has been transferred to the police control room. DCP (operations) Akbar Pathan said: “This is to inform that Mumbai Police has ordered inquiry in the matter and action will be taken after verifying the facts... The concerned driver has been removed from the place of his present posting till the completion of inquiry.” Comedian Varun Grover posted the video on Instagram saying, "Two things to note in this video apart from the SHOCKING aspect of Mumbai cops threatening to plant drugs on innocent kids. 1. The cluelessness of the boomer cop about being recorded. 2. The chill DGAF attitude of the boy. This gap between authority and disdain for it is the centre of this protest. A unique, new era of dissent in India." Mumbai Police has registered 15 FIRs and booked nearly 1,500 people since the protests began last week, according to an Indian Express report.

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