Mumbai: Popular singer Sonu Nigam was allegedly manhandled by the members of Shiv Sena (UBT) during a performance in the Chembur area in Mumbai.
According to media reports, Nigam was performing when the son of a local MLA, reportedly associated with Shiv Sena (UBT) misbehaved with the ‘Abhi mujhme kahin’ singer’s manager.
The alleged person asked the singer’s manager to get off the stage, and when Nigam was getting out, and ended up pushing the singer. According to reports, the individual also pushed Nigam’s friend, and both suffered injuries.
A video on social media is doing the rounds where an individual is seen pushing Nigam and his friend.
Following the incident, Singer Sonu Nigam reached Chembur police station and complained, prompting police to file a case. There has been no arrest made by the police so far.
The case has been registered under IPC sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others) on the basis of the singer’s complaint, the police said.
DCP Hemrajsingh Rajput told reporters, “After live concert, Sonu Nigam was coming down from stage when a man held him. After objection, he pushed Sonu Nigam and two other men with him from the steps, one of those two men sustained injuries. The accused’s name is Swapnil Phaterpekar.”
“The injured has been identified as Rabbani,” he added.
Sources said that the accused is the son of a local MLA. “He (accused) allegedly reached out to the singer for a selfie when the scuffle broke out between him and Sonu Nigam’s security,” they said.
Recalling the incident, Singer Sonu Nigam told the reporters, “After the concert, I was coming down from stage when a man held me. Then he pushed Hari & Rabbani, who came to save me. Then I fell on steps.”
“Rabbani (the injured one who accompanied Sonu) could have died today if some iron rods were lying down. He was pushed in such a way… You could see in the video…Even I was about to fall,” he said.
Sonu made it clear in his statement that he lodged the complaint to raise awareness among common people. “I filed a complaint so that people should think about the consequences when they try to get a selfie or pictures forcefully, there was a commotion, dhakka mukki, arrogance….,” he said.
Commenting on reports about “Sonu being attacked by some men”, DCP Rajput said, “I have talked to Sonuji. Till now, we haven’t found any such evidence. The accused wanted to take a selfie or he may have tried to garner some media attention…We would investigate further to ascertain the cause.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI that local MLA’s son tried to reach out to Sonu Nigam after his performance for a selfie, but Sonu Nigam’s body guard stopped him not knowing his identity.
“Later there was a minor scuffle between Bodyguard and MLA’s son due to which one or two people fell from stage. Meanwhile, MLA’s daughter who is an ex-BMC corporater intervened and they were stopped. Injured were taken to hospital. So it’s not an assault,” Chaturvedi told ANI over the phone.
