Pune: A 50-year-old irrigation contractor from Airoli in Navi Mumbai and his two friends were arrested in the early hours of Sunday on charges of drunk driving, and abusing and threatening a traffic police constable when the latter stopped their car at Pulgate for reckless driving. The three were released later after being served with a notice to join the police investigation as and when summoned. The police recovered a licensed revolver from the contractor.“The three were referred for a medical test soon after their detention, and the reports confirmed that they were in an inebriated condition at the time of the incident. We released them issuing notices, asking them to join our probe as and when summoned by the investigating officer, after completing the arrest formalities,” senior inspector Girish Dighavkar of the Cantonment police said.“The contractor and his friends were in the city for some work. They had dinner at a bar-cum-restaurant in the Swargate area before they started driving towards MG Road around 12.30am Sunday,” Dhigavkar said. Traffic constable Vijay Sutar spotted the car being driven recklessly and signalled the contractor, who was driving it, to stop. The traffic police were carrying out an action to catch drunk drivers on the road.“The trio took offence to this and started abusing and threatening the constable. The contractor even tried to push the policeman when the latter confronted them. The contractor also tried to pull out his revolver from his trousers. Later, the police checked him and found the firearm on him,” Dhigavkar said.“The Latur police had issued a firearm licence to the contractor a few years ago. We have sought details of it from the Latur police. Also, we will send a report of the case to the Latur police,” senior police inspector Girish Dighavkar said.
