Fashion Designer Rishi Thange

A 29-year-old fashion designer, whose car was hit by a state transport bus near Vikhroli on Thursday, found himself at the receiving end of the police's wrath after he allegedly refused to bribe them.
    Rishi Thange and his relatives were travelling in their Swift on the Eastern Express Highway in the wee hours when the mishap took place. Soon, some cops patrolling the area arrived at the spot and took Thange and his family members, comprising his sister and nieces, to the Vikhroli police station where his "real nightmare'' began. "I was told to pay up Rs 18,000 if I wanted to go home. When I refused, an FIR was filed against me instead of the ST driver,'' Thange alleged.
    Thange confessed that he slapped the bus driver for almost killing them. "However, the Vikhroli cops, instead of listening to both parties, let the driver go and made me and my relatives sit for hours in the police station. They then demanded Rs 18,000, which I refused to pay, after which I was booked for assaulting the driver," Thange told TOI on Friday. "My sister and nieces are still in a state of shock after the mental agony they faced," he added.
    Incidentally, according to Thange's lawyer, Rushikesh Bhosale, even the magistrate was shocked to find loopholes in the case when the Vikhroli police produced his client in court. "The magistrate asked the cops as to why they hadn't registered cross-complaints after talking to both the parties. He (the magistrate) then told Thange that he could complain to the police commissioner against the Vikhroli cops for framing him. The police didn't even bother to find out if the ST driver was drunk,'' Bhosale said.
    Vikhroli police senior inspector Suresh Gaikwad refuted the allegations and said that they had booked the "right'' person. "Thange was driving rashly, which has been corroborated by the bus passengers. The ST driver was not at fault. To make matters worse, Thange, instead of lodging a complaint, assaulted the driver who is a government servant".
    "The Vikhroli police forced the bus passengers to give statements against Thange. And as far as slapping the driver was concerned, Thange's reaction was natural and he has not denied it either. His elder sister suffered swellings in the legs and everyone in the car was in a state of shock,'' Thange's lawyer said.
    Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of police (Zone VII) Sanjay Shintre said, "An inquiry has been initiated against the Vikhroli police. We will soon reach a conclusion.''