Thane, June 11: In a dramatic turn of events involving a fee dispute at a Thane-based aviation institute, the Naupada police have booked 36 individuals, including former BJP corporator Sanjay Waghule, for allegedly assaulting and unlawfully confining a doctor and his colleague on May 10.
According to the FIR, Dr. Pramod Maurya and an associate were held for nearly five hours after a heated altercation over fee refunds escalated. Around 6 PM, a group of students, parents, and Waghule reportedly barged into the institute demanding refunds or post-dated cheques.
When Dr. Maurya stated he didn’t have cheque books, Waghule allegedly ordered their confinement. Prashant Singh, the institute’s co-owner, rushed to the police station to report the incident. Police reached the location and escorted Dr. Maurya to the station. However, the crowd initially resisted cooperation and allegedly assaulted the doctor at the police station.
Dr. Maurya, a partner of Singh, later filed a formal complaint. In response, an FIR was registered against 36 people under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including:
- Section 126(2) – Unlawful assembly with deadly weapons
- Section 189(2) – Threat of injury to public servant
- Section 190, 191(2), 110, 115(2), 351(2), 352, 49 – Related to criminal intimidation, wrongful confinement, and assault.
In a counter-complaint, a student filed an FIR against Prashant Singh, Dr. Maurya, and Pratibha Dhivar, accusing them of cheating and collecting ₹80,000 on false promises of job placements.
Abhay Mahajan, Senior Inspector at Naupada Police Station, confirmed both complaints and said, “We have summoned all parties involved to record their statements.”
