Congress demands probe into video of Mumbai cop’s drug-case threat to student protesters

Mumbai: The Congress on Thursday demanded a probe into a viral video purportedly showing a policeman threatening to frame student protesters in Mumbai in false drugs cases, describing the incident as “hooliganism in khaki”.

The widely-shared video alleges that a police driver warned the students they would be implicated in fabricated narcotics cases and made to spend the rest of their lives in jail if they participated in further protests.

In a post on X, the Mumbai Congress 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.”

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said in a statement on his X handle, “Allegations are being made that the police are issuing threats like, ‘If you participate in the movement, we’ll plant 50 grams of drugs in your pocket and throw you inside.’ This repression, stooping to such low levels to silence the students’ voice, is a black mark on democracy.”

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that the police were threatening student protesters with false narcotics cases by claiming drugs would be planted on them.

Describing it as “hooliganism in khaki”, he claimed such conduct was worse than what was seen during British rule and demanded an inquiry into where the police would procure drugs if such threats were indeed being made.

The former minister also accused the BJP-led government of misusing the police to intimidate protesting youth and said the force’s motto of protecting the good and punishing the wicked stood undermined.

The Mumbai police on Thursday ordered an inquiry into the video.

Parts of the metropolis have been witnessing protests in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led students’ agitation in New Delhi.