Mumbai Police chief initiates probe into disputed raids

Mumbai Police chief Rakesh Maria initiated a probe into Thursday’s raids by the Malwani police at Madh Island and Aksa beach which has been criticised as moral policing.Considering strong public reactions and criticism against the city police’s moral policing, Maria instructed Additional Commissioner of Police (North) Fatehsingh Patil to conduct an inquiry, according to police sources.

On August 6, Malwani police station sleuths led by DCP (Zone XI) Vikram Deshpande had raided hotels, lodges, resorts at Madh and Aksa beach. The police picked up 13 couples and 35 others and charged them for so called “indecent behaviour” in public under Section 110 of the Maharashtra Police Act, formerly known as the Bombay Police Act, Malwani police station’s senior inspector Milind Khetle said.