Mumbai: Six days after an FIR was registered against a 55-year-old administrative officer posted at the Municipal Commissioner’s office for alleged sexual harassment of a 30- year-old female employee, the BMC is yet to suspend the accused officer.

The accused, identified as Irfan Pathan, was transferred from the Municipal Commissioner’s office to the environment department immediately after the complaint surfaced. However, civic officials said stricter action, including suspension, can only be taken after the report of the POSH committee.

The Azad Maidan police said that since the offence registered against Pathan carries punishment of less than seven years, he was served a notice and released.

“Since the offence carries punishment of less than seven years, a notice was served to the accused and he was released. He could be arrested later if directed by the court,” said an officer from Azad Maidan police station.

Meanwhile, the BMC’s POSH committee – technically known as the Internal Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 – has started its inquiry into the matter and has begun questioning eyewitnesses. Officials said the victim did not directly approach the BMC’s POSH committee and had instead lodged an FIR with the police.

“We started the inquiry after the Savitribai Phule Women’s Resource Centre’s Internal Complaints Committee referred the matter to us. The police should have arrested Pathan by now as it is a sexual harassment case. In terms of suspension, it is the administration’s decision,” a committee official said.

A senior civic official said Pathan remains “absconding” as per the administration’s information. Another civic official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed there were discussions within the BMC headquarters that Pathan had been admitted to Nair Hospital allegedly to evade arrest.

According to the FIR registered on May 5, the complainant, who joined BMC service on compassionate grounds a few months ago, accused Pathan of harassment, inappropriate behaviour, workplace misconduct and stalking outside the office. She also alleged that he sent her letters and unwanted messages and issued memos against her without valid reason.

Officials at the BMC headquarters claimed that several employees had earlier faced difficulties because of Pathan’s behaviour and said immediate action was necessary to prevent harassment of more employees, especially women.

BJP MLC Chitra Wagh, who raised the matter with Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and Mayor Ritu Tawde, said the accused should not only be arrested and suspended but also dismissed from service.

Kalyan: In a shocking incident that has triggered outrage in Kalyan, a security guard deployed at the civic-run Rukminibai Hospital was allegedly brutally assaulted with an iron rod after he asked a car driver to remove his vehicle from the hospital entrance and clear the way for ambulances and emergency vehicles.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the hospital premises, took place at the busy entrance gate of the hospital where patients and ambulances frequently move in and out throughout the day.

The video of the assault has now gone viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from citizens over rising aggression against frontline workers.

According to information received, Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) security guard Kishor Lote was on duty at Rukminibai Hospital when a four-wheeler arrived carrying a patient.

After dropping the patient, the driver allegedly parked the vehicle directly in front of the hospital’s main gate instead of moving it to the designated parking area.

The improperly parked car reportedly caused obstruction for ambulances and other emergency vehicles attempting to enter and exit the hospital premises.

Observing the traffic disruption, security guard Kishor Lote approached the driver and requested him to move the vehicle aside to ensure smooth passage for emergency services.

However, the driver allegedly became aggressive and entered into a heated argument with the security guard.

Witnesses said the accused not only refused to move the vehicle but also arrogantly instructed the guard to park the car himself.

When Lote attempted to explain the seriousness of blocking the hospital gate, the enraged driver allegedly stepped out of the vehicle and began physically assaulting him with punches and kicks.

The situation escalated further when the accused reportedly pulled out an iron rod from the vehicle and attacked the security guard.

Sources said another person accompanying the accused attempted to restrain him, but the attacker continued the assault in full public view.

In the scuffle, the uniform of the MSF security guard was also torn.

The violent episode created panic within the hospital premises, with patients, visitors and staff members gathering at the spot.

Hospital employees expressed anger over the assault on a staff member performing his duty to maintain emergency access for ambulances.

The entire incident was captured on CCTV footage, which is now being examined by police officials.

The footage reportedly clearly shows the accused assaulting the security guard near the hospital entrance.

Following the incident, the Mahatma Phule Police registered a criminal case against the unidentified car driver and launched a search operation to trace and arrest him.

Police officials said the vehicle number has been identified through CCTV footage and efforts are underway to nab the accused at the earliest.

The incident has sparked demands for strict action against individuals obstructing emergency medical services and attacking on-duty hospital staff.

Citizens and hospital workers have urged authorities to ensure stronger security arrangements and stricter enforcement around hospital emergency zones to prevent such incidents in future.

Mumbai: India’s gem and jewellery industry has warned that any broad reduction in gold jewellery purchases could impact employment linked to the sector, which supports over one crore people directly and several allied industries indirectly.

Responding to PM Narendra Modi’s appeal to avoid buying gold for a year amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) chairman Rajesh Rokde said the industry supports the government’s national interest concerns but cautioned against measures that could hurt livelihoods.

“Whatever the Prime Minister has said is absolutely correct from the perspective of patriotism and national interest,” Rokde said.

“More than one crore people are directly employed in the industry. Insurance, banking, furniture, packaging and logistics sectors are also dependent on jewellery trade,” he said, warning that restrictions on jewellery buying could raise concerns over unemployment.

At the same time, Rokde supported discouraging bullion and coin purchases made purely for investment purposes. “Stopping unnecessary buying of bullion and coins is absolutely right,” he said.

The industry has instead urged the Centre to strengthen and modernise the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) to bring idle household gold into the formal economy and reduce dependence on imports.

According to Rokde, Indians are estimated to hold around 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of gold. “If even 10-20% of this gold is monetised, India may not need to import gold for the next 10 years,” he said, adding that the GJC has already submitted an end to end monetisation proposal to the government.

GJC vice-chairman Avinash Gupta said gold remains significant for Indian households, but excessive imports also affect the current acc ount deficit and foreign exchange reserves. He said a properly regulated GMS could help channel dormant household gold into the financial system.

Meanwhile, the digital precious metals industry has launched the Digital Precious Metals Assurance Council of India (DPMACI), a self-regulatory body formed by firms including MMTC-PAMP, SafeGold, Augmont, PhonePe, BharatPe, Mobikwik, Gullak, Lenden Club and CRED to improve transparency and consumer protection in the digital gold and silver market.