Pune woman constable suspended for driving drunk in uniform, car mounts footpath in Manjri

A woman police personnel of the Pune police has been suspended on the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. The action has been taken against Ashwini Kekan, 39. A case has also been registered against her at Manjri police station. The police administration acted immediately after a video of the incident in the Manjri area went viral on social media.

She is alleged to have driven drunk on the road in front of Ramanand hotel in Shewalewadi. She was reportedly in uniform. She allegedly drove a grey Maruti Suzuki Baleno without a number plate on the wrong side, cut across oncoming vehicles and drove the car straight onto the footpath. She had lost control of the car. She then also abused other motorists and members of the public. A video clip of the entire incident has spread widely on social media.

In the viral video, the woman police personnel is seen in uniform. When people at the spot asked her, she admitted to having consumed alcohol, which can also be heard in the video.

According to the information available, she is posted at Kalepadal police station. Taking the matter seriously, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jeevan Beniwal said a case has been registered against her and she has been suspended. The report of the medical examination at Sassoon hospital confirmed alcohol consumption, and the suspension order also states this clearly. The case was registered at Manjri police station on October 27 on the complaint of police personnel Rameshwar Thorat.

According to initial police sources, she was not on duty on the Sunday and Monday before the incident. Police are also investigating whether she had gone to a party with friends in the Bund Garden area of Pune before the incident. Police are trying to establish exactly where and when she consumed alcohol.

There is sharp anger among people that rules were flouted in this manner by a member of the very force responsible for enforcing the law. Manjri police are investigating the case further on the basis of the video footage, statements of eyewitnesses and available evidence.