Swapnil, the son of Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Phaterpekar, allegedly attacked singer Sonu Nigam following a concert on Monday. Nigam has reported the incident to the Mumbai Police.
A case has been registered under IPC sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) on the basis of singer Sonu Nigam’s complaint.
Nigam was performing at the Chembur Festival, which was organised by MLA Prakash Phaterpekar. The MLA’s son allegedly acted inappropriately with Nigam’s manager, Saira, and asked her to leave the stage. As Nigam was leaving the stage, he requested a selfie, which the singer declined. The MLA’s agitated son pushed the bodyguard, who then pushed the singer, and he fell down the stairs.
Nigam’s close associates, Hari Prasad and Rabbani Khan, were injured in the attack and were taken to Zen Hospital in Chembur. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media as well.
According to sources, Swapnil approached Nigam for a selfie as he was leaving the event venue from backstage. After the singer refused, he attempted to take selfies forcefully. His bodyguard stepped in to protect Sonu. Nigam’s associates attempted to stop him as well, but Swapnil pushed them away. Nigam’s associates were seen falling down the stairs in the video.
Nigam told the media persons that he had filed a complaint because people should understand that forcing someone to take a selfie is wrong.
Nigam said, “I was asked to take a selfie, which I refused. I was grabbed by someone. Later, I discovered his name was Swapnil Phaterpekar. Hari Prasad, a close associate of mine, came to my rescue, and Swapnil pushed him as well. I was also pushed. When Rabbani arrived to save me, he was also pushed. He narrowly escaped serious injury. Rabbani was fortunate that there was no metal [where he fell].”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Hemrajsingh Rajput stated, “After a live concert, Sonu Nigam was coming down from the stage when a man held him. After an objection, he pushed Sonu Nigam and two other men from the steps, injuring one of them. The accused name is Swapnil Phaterpekar. According to my interactions with Sonu Nigam, the incident did not appear to be intentional, and it was done by a single person. The situation was then controlled by the volunteers. In FIR, there is only one name. It’s just a case where the singer was held by the accused, possibly with the intention of taking a photograph.”
