Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Police sub-inspector Navnath Patodkar, claiming to be a cow protector, allegedly abused, assaulted, and threatened officers outside Phulambri police station on Wednesday around midnight. He reportedly incited a mob to attack officers’ homes by pelting stones.
The incident began when cow protectors Ganesh Shelke, Suraj Jadhav, and others stopped a vehicle transporting cattle at Sawangi Shivar around 9 pm and informed police. Police inspector Sanjay Sahane’s team advised them not to interfere, but Shelke and others abused and pushed officers, vandalised a pickup van, attempted to set it on fire, and assaulted PSI Chate, assistant PI Murhade, and constable Shinde. When Shelke and others were detained at Phulambri police station, a mob of 150–200 gathered outside, with PSI Patodkar among them in plain clothes. He allegedly threatened officers with job loss, encouraged the mob to attack their homes, and assaulted constable Anil Ghusinge. Phulambri police registered a case under 12 serious sections of the BNS against Patodkar, Shelke, Suraj Jadhav, Pawan Janjal, and about 20 others. SP Dr Vinaykumar Rathod assigned the investigation to inspector Samratsingh Rajput of Karmad police station. Patodkar, previously involved in controversies at Chikalthana police station and later posted to the crime branch, was suspended immediately by police commissioner Pravin Pawar after the FIR. Meanwhile, Shelke, who survived a previous murder attempt by meat smugglers on October 7, alleged severe police assault and threats to his life and is under treatment at a city hospital. A separate case against those involved in cattle smuggling has also been registered.