Bhoiwada Police Book Govinda Mandal Heads for Letting Minor Climb Human Pyramid
The Bhoiwada police have registered an FIR against the president and instructor of the SPC Govinda Mandal in Parel for allegedly allowing a 12-year-old boy to climb to the sixth tier of a human pyramid without protective gear during a Ganesh idol arrival procession on August 23.
The accused have been identified as Mahesh Maruti Kalbate, the president of SPC Govinda Mandal, and Sachin Dattatray Surve, the group's instructor. Both have been accused of negligence and violating safety rules and administrative directives by involving a minor in the formation.
According to the complaint filed by 45-year-old police constable Ninad Sadashiv Satose, who was assigned to security duty for the procession near the Ganesh Sankul workshop on Dr B. A. Road in Parel, the Parelcha Samrat Ganesh idol procession began at around 5 pm from the Tata Mill Compound on Jagannath Bhatankar Marg.
Between 6:30 pm and 7 pm, as the procession reached the Lakshmi Cottage building on Dr B. A. Road, a Govinda team of 50 to 60 members arrived and began forming a six-tier human pyramid. Police officers on the scene noticed a young boy climbing to the sixth and top tier without any helmet or protective equipment.
Police personnel deployed for bandobast, including Bhoiwada police station day-duty supervisor Police Inspector Ganesh Jadhav and Police Sub-Inspector Ravindra Rane, intervened immediately and brought the boy down safely to prevent any mishap.
Following the intervention, police questioned the mandal office-bearers and detained Kalbate and Surve. During questioning, the organizers confirmed that the boy on the sixth tier was 12 years old.
Based on the complaint submitted by Constable Satose on behalf of the government, the Bhoiwada police booked Kalbate and Surve under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, and the Maharashtra Police Act. Further investigation into the incident remains underway.
