Cops bar MNS cadre from bringing outside food to city multiplex

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande and 15 party workers were stopped from entering a multiplex in Phoenix Mills at Lower Parel as they were carrying outside food on Monday. The MNS has alleged that police supported the management of PVR, instead of going by the state government’s order which said movie goers would be allowed to carry outside food inside multiplexes from August 1.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Sandeep Deshpande said, “We had booked fifteen tickets for a movie and we brought our own food. Police prevented us from entering the premises with the food so we told them, as per the state government resolution we are permitted to carry outside food. Police repeatedly spoke on behalf of the multiplex management, saying it was not allowed and stopped us."

The MNS leader alleged police refused to to register their complaint against the multiplex management. They have threatened to file a First Information Report (FIR) in the next two days. One hundred policemen were deployed on bandobast at the multiplex.

According to Pandit Thorat, senior police inspector, Gamdevi Police denied MNS allegations of being partisan. “We had stopped the MNS workers from entering as a precautionary measure, since they were a large number. There was no altercation. Nobody has been detained or arrested,” said Thorat.

Refusing to comment on why police did not allow them to enter the premises with food, Thorat counterqueried, “Why don’t you ask the MNS workers instead, if they have a problem with the multiplex management?"

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ravindra Chavan, had announced in the state legislature's monsoon session, there was no ban on bringing outside eatables inside cinema halls and places like food courts under the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulations) Rules, 1966.