The Mulund police on Saturday arrested Satyavan Garud for allegedly assaulting, threatening, and slapping the driver of BJP MLA (Mulund Assembly) Mihir Kotecha. Garud reportedly said to the driver, “Tu amdar ka driver hai na? Tere amdar ko bolna, hisaab mein rehne ka. Nahin toh tere amdar ko chhodunga nahi. Tu jaanta nahi main kaun hoon,” before slapping him.
According to the FIR, the complainant, Muttu Tevar, 43, a resident of Bhandup West, has been working as MLA Mihir Kotecha’s driver for the past 23 years. On May 23, at around 9:30 pm, Tevar was parking the MLA’s vehicle near Kotecha’s office on Devidayal Road in Mulund West, preparing to return home when the incident occurred.
A short distance from the office, Satyavan Garud stopped Tevar, placed a hand on his shoulder, and snatched his mobile phone. Garud reportedly said, “You are the MLA’s driver, right? Tell your MLA to stay in line, or I won’t spare him. I’ll call you to find out where your MLA is and where he’s going. If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you and your MLA. You don’t know who I am. My name is Satyavan Garud.”
Frightened by the incident, Tevar returned home to Bhandup West. The next afternoon, upon reporting to work, he informed colleagues at Kotecha’s office, who advised him to file a police complaint. Tevar then approached the Mulund police station on Saturday afternoon, and an FIR was registered. The police subsequently arrested Garud.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, MLA Kotecha said, “Satyavan Garud threatened my driver and demanded to know my daily schedule. I do not know him and have never met him. My driver filed the complaint with the police.”
According to police sources, Satyavan Garud has a criminal record and was under the influence of alcohol during the incident.
The police registered a case on May 24 under sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
