Man linked to security lapse at PM Narendra Modi event in Mumbai held

MUMBAI: A man who posed as a public servant and gained unauthorised entry into the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis where he shared dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been arrested.

Anil Mishra managed to enter Wankhede Stadium, where the ceremony was held on October 31, without a valid pass and got onto the dais where Modi was sitting along with other dignitaries in an apparent breach of security, police said.

Mishra, who claims to be a BJP activist, was arrested yesterday and produced before a court which sent him in police custody till November 11, police said today.

The 39-year-old has been booked under IPC sections 170 (personating a public servant) and 447 (Punishment for criminal trespass), police said.

"The accused gained entry into the stadium falsely claiming to be a Government servant and moreover he broke the tight security zone," said DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni.

According to police sources, Mishra was spotted near the VVIPs, including Modi, India's most protected politician, and Fadnavis, who also enjoys multi-layered security.

Mishra got his photographs with dignitaries such as Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, both present at the event, clicked and uploaded them on social media.

A BJP activist, Sanjay Bedia, brought the matter to the notice of police, who immediately launched a probe.

However, Mishra's lawyer Vinod Chate claimed his client had obtained a valid pass. "My client had a valid VIP pass to gain entry into the Wankhede Stadium. Police are only saying he should not have gone on the dais where the PM, CM and other dignitaries were present."

"Mishra, who is a registered member of BJP, went on to the stage to greet the dignitaries but only after the ceremony was over," Chate told reporters.

When told that BJP has denied having issued a VIP pass to Mishra, the advocate asserted, "Police will investigate the facts. Mishra had no criminal intentions."

The lawyer alleged Bedia, who had complained to police about Mishra, has personal differences with his client and because of which he falsely implicated the latter.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse today assured appropriate action in the incident.

"We need to conduct an inquiry about this man. Where did he come from and who he is. Some unknown person comes so close to the Prime Minister... this is not good. I will talk to the Chief Minister about this and appropriate action will be taken," Khadse told reporters here.