Mumbai: A shocking incident of alleged manhandling and assault of a senior railway official by a pass holder passenger has come to light in the Panchavati Express. Chief Vigilance Inspector Shailesh Dubey of Western Railways has filed a written complaint with the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), alleging that he was not only manhandled but also slapped by a pass holder in the presence of an on-duty Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE).

According to Dubey’s complaint, the incident occurred on March 18 when he boarded the C2 coach of the Panchavati Express at Thane. He occupied a vacant seat when a passenger approached him, demanding to see his ticket. Dubey, who was in plain clothes, asked the passenger whether he was a TTE, to which the latter replied in the negative. Dubey then stated that he would show his ticket only to the TTE.

However, the situation escalated when the passenger insisted that the coach was reserved for monthly season ticket (MST) holders and that "ordinary people" were not allowed. As other passengers joined in, an argument ensued. When the TTE arrived, Dubey presented his official duty pass. Despite this, the pass holders continued to heckle him.

In his complaint, Dubey alleged that a particular pass holder started abusing him and, even as he was leaving the coach, began kicking him. When Dubey questioned the assault, the passenger allegedly slapped him in front of other travelers and on-duty Ticket checking staff N.R. Sonewale. Another TTE, Rupesh Jadhav, intervened to rescue him.

A 2-minute 22-second video of the altercation has since gone viral on social media. The footage shows Dubey grabbing the collar of a passenger and demanding an explanation for the slap, while several other passengers shout at him. Though Dubey remains composed, the surrounding passengers appear agitated.

When contacted, a ticket checker from the train, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that pass holders often travel in groups and tend to become aggressive when a non-pass holder entered in the coach reserve for pass holder. Even when seats are vacant, they mostly do not allow regular ticket holders to sit in their designated coaches.

Senior Police Inspector Vijay Tayade of CSMT Railway Station confirmed receiving the complaint and stated that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of Thane Railway Police.

"The incident occurred in the Panchavati Express in a reserved compartment. The altercation broke out over sitting on a vacant seat. When the government officer sat on the vacant seat, a passenger asked for his ticket and questioned whether he was allowed to sit in that coach, which led to the altercation. The government officer filed a complaint with us. As the incident occurred in the Thane railway jurisdiction, we have sent the complaint to the Thane Railway Police Station for further action" said Tayade.

On duty ticket checker NR Sonewale's internal report submitted to the divisional railway manager on Tuesday also stated that a pass holder physically assaulted the Chief Vigilance Inspector of WR

"While performing my duties on the train, I observed a quarrel between some passengers travelling with MST (Monthly Season Ticket) and a passenger who boarded the train from Thane. The dispute escalated as the passengers with the MST claimed that the passenger from Thane was not authorized to travel in the MST coach, as he did not have any valid travelling authority. Upon hearing the commotion, I immediately intervened and inquired about the traveling authority of the passenger who boarded from Thane. The said passenger stated that he is Vigilance Inspector/WR and showed me the ID card, Shailesh Dubey chief vigilance inspector was mentioned on it. Prior to my intervention, it was noticed that Shailesh Dubey who boarded from Thane had been man handled by Shanti Dubey, a pass holder due to the dispute over his unauthorized travel," stated the internal report submitted by NR Sonewale, chief ticket inspector, CSMT who was on duty in the Panchwati express on 18 March.

Western Railway Strongly Condemns Assault on Chief Vigilance Inspector Aboard Panchavati Express

Western Railway strongly condemns the unfortunate incident aboard Train No. 12110 Panchavati Express where a few unruly Monthly Season Ticket (MST) holders misbehaved with and physically assaulted Shailesh Dubey, Chief Vigilance Inspector, Western Railway on Mary 18th.

It has been observed that certain MST holders in coach C2 have been repeatedly creating a hostile environment by not allowing other passengers to enter the coach, initiating quarrels, and disturbing railway discipline. On 18th March 2025, the situation escalated when a few aggressive MST holders, including Shanti Dubey, misbehaved with Shailesh Dubey and physically assaulted him as he was leaving the coach.