WATCH: BJP's Sunil Kamble Slaps On-Duty Cop At Pune Event, Draws Opposition Ire

The incident took place at the inauguration event of the transgender ward in Pune’s Sassoon Hospital on Friday.

Screengrab of the footage showing Sunil Kamble slapping the police officer.

New Delhi: A video showing BJP MLA Sunil Kamble losing his cool and slapping a police official at an event in Maharashtra’s Pune has gone viral. The clip, shared by news agency ANI, shows the BJP leader losing balance and stumbling while descending the stage. In a fit of anger, he is seen lashing out and slapping an on-duty police official. The event was also attended by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | BJP MLA Sunil Kamble was seen slapping a Police personnel during an event at Sassoon Hospital in Pune today. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was present on the stage at the event when the incident occurred.

Visuals show Sunil Kamble leaving the stage after the… pic.twitter.com/gSXTRmINMr

— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

According to the news agency, the incident took place at the inauguration event of the transgender ward in Pune’s Sassoon Hospital on Friday.

The BJP MLA’s action has drawn Opposition ire. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar slammed Kamble and described the reported act as brazen “display of corrupt power”. 

Sharing a clip of the incident on X, the Congress leader wrote in Hindi, “From Abdul Sattar yesterday to BJP MLA Sunil Kamble today, the display of corrupt power continues. The audacity of the ruling MLA is evident as he allegedly slapped a on-duty policeman. Will the Home Minister address this matter? Urgent action against BJP MLA Sunil Kamble for assaulting a police officer is imperative, or there will be attempts to stop cops from filing a complaint against him.”

काल अब्दुल सत्तार
आज भाजपचे आमदार सुनील कांबळे यांनी दाखवला सत्तेचा माज ...
भाजप आमदाराची मस्ती इतकी की ड्युटीवर असलेल्या पोलीस जवानाच्या थोबाडीत हाणली, थेट खाकी वर्दीला हात घालण्याची हिंमत सत्ताधारी आमदार मध्ये आली कशी?

गृहमंत्री याची दखल घेणार का? पोलिस अधिकाऱ्याला मारहाण… pic.twitter.com/j8QhIL6Nua

— Vijay Wadettiwar (@VijayWadettiwar) January 5, 2024

Shiv Sena's Sushma Andhare also criticised Kamble over his reported action.

"BJP legislator Sunil Kamble is known for his consistent use of abusive language, violence, and his bullying tactics. He feels empowered to engage in such behaviour because as BJP MLAs, they have been granted permission by the party to engage in such criminal activities,” Andhare said in a post on X.

भाजप आमदार सुनील कांबळे हे कायमच अर्वाच्य आणि शिवराळ भाषा, मारहाण , दादागिरी करण्यासाठी कूप्रसिद्ध आहेत.
असे करण्याची त्यांची वारंवार हिम्मत वाढत जाते कारण भाजपचा आमदार असल्यामुळे भाजपाकडून गुन्हेगारी कृत्यांचे जणू आमदार खासदारांना परमिट मिळाले आहे. @Dev_Fadnavis @ShivSenaUBT_ pic.twitter.com/oN3NiBscmM

— SushmaTai Andhare🔥 (@andharesushama) January 5, 2024

According to reports, Kamble denied his involvement in the slapping incident and said he merely pushed an individual while descending the staircase.