Shiv Sena MLA Hemant Patil holding up train: RPF starts recording statements

MUMBAI: The Railway Protection Force has started recording statements of witnesses in connection with an incident at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus where a Shiv Sena MLA and his supporters allegedly held up a train because they did not get berths of their choice.

"The enquiry is on. We are in the process of recording statements of the witnesses," a senior RPF official said.

RPF had registered a case against unidentified persons under the relevant sections of the Railway Act yesterday.

On the Wednesday night, Hemant Patil, Sena MLA from Nanded, and his supporters did not allow the 9:10 PM Devgiri Express to depart till 10 PM by repeatedly pulling the chain, as he had been allotted a side-berth in a second AC coach.

The railway officials refused to entertain his demand of another berth.

Patil later said his act was meant to expose "unprofessional approach of railway officials" towards the grievances of passengers.

Apart from causing inconvenience to nearly 2,000 passengers of the train, the incident affected the schedules of at least two other long-distance trains.

Patil alleged MLAs were always allotted side-berths whereas other passengers got lower berths by "buying tickets from the agents".