MUMBAI: An entrepreneur scouting for space to run a digital enterprise in Mulund in the eastern suburbs was allegedly turned away by a housing society’s secretary and her son for being a Maharashtrian. The incident led to the filing of a police complaint and drew reactions from across the political spectrum.
The complainant, Trupti Devrukhkar, has a digital marketing business. She and her husband had approached a broker who informed them of an office space that was available on RP Road, Mulund near PMC Colony. She told police the secretary made it clear that the society would not let out properties to Maharashtrians. When she tried to record their conversation, the couple were abused and manhandled by the man and his son.
Based on Devrukar’s complaint, Mulund police on Wednesday lodged a first information report (FIR) and arrested the 80-year-old secretary of Shiv Sadan CHS, Pravin Tanna, and his son Nilesh. They were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 341 for wrongful confinement, 323 for assault and 504 for insults intended to provoke breach of peace. Senior inspector of Mulund police station Kantilal Kothimbire said the duo was arrested on Thursday and released on bail.
The confrontation with the Mulund society’s secretary took place when the broker, Pareshbhai, approached a neighboring tailoring shop for the key to the unit. “The tailor showed us the shop. I was looking to see if there was any other shop nearby. At that point, the secretary, Tanna, came and asked the tailor something in Gujarati. Then he said the society does not give properties on rent to Maharashtrians,” Trupti Devrukhkar told TOI.
She said when she asked Tanna if this discrimination against a community was an official rule, he got annoyed. When she told him to put it in writing, she said he refused and asked her to go file a complaint wherever she could. Devrukar said they were on the verge of leaving at this point when Tanna’s son Nilesh joined in.
The complainant said she took out her mobile phone to record the exchange. Nilesh Tanna allegedly objected and snatched the phone to delete the video. In the melee, he abused and manhandled Devrukar’s husband. “We have just registered the FIR and arrested the accused and are now collecting evidence against them,” said senior inspector Kothimbire.
[Read More](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/bizwoman-denied-office-rental-in-mulund-chs-as-shes-maharashtrian/articleshow/104054397.cms)
