Kochi : City police on Monday invoked additional charges against the private bus staff who threatened at least two commuters and assaulted a policeman who tried to arrest him. The man was again taken into custody on Monday, a day after the city police faced severe criticism for not invoking appropriate BNS sections against the man and for releasing him on station bail.
The case pertains to the violent behaviour by Muhammed Anza, 27. However, only Section 117(e) of the KP Act was invoked, which allowed him to get station bail on Saturday. Despite Chelattu approaching the police on Aug 22 with a complaint, no action was taken.
He also released images of the man blocking his car just like he did in the viral video.
He said he was not offered an explanation as to why the case was not registered when he initially complained. The city police commissioner had earlier said that strict action would be taken against the accused and it was during a detailed investigation that the seriousness of the matter came to light. The police attempted to arrest him from a bus when he allegedly attacked the officers. As per the FIR registered against him based on the complaint of an ASI, the accused allegedly hit him on his face using his elbow and slammed him onto the floor. The FIR was registered invoking charges under relevant sections of the BNS for wrongful restraint and uttering obscene words. By evening, Anzar was arrested and later remanded.
Police tried to arrest the man on Saturday, nearly a month after the crime, as a video went viral allegedly showing him blocking a car and threatening a family while smoking a cigarette. The passive action by the police was further criticised after another commuter, Rejins Chelattu, on Sunday said he had been threatened by the same person two weeks after the first incident. However, after he revealed his ordeal to the media, Thrikkakara Police contacted him on Saturday night and recorded his statement. After recording his statement, the police registered an FIR on Sunday night around 10pm, over two weeks after the alleged offence occurred and an initial complaint was filed.