Mumbai Police Suspends Officer After Viral Video Shows Him Threatening Students With Fake Drug Case

Mumbai Police has removed an officer seen in a viral video threatening protesting students with a fabricated drug case from his current posting, pending an inquiry into the authenticity and circumstances of the incident, after the clip triggered fresh controversy over the force's handling of ongoing student protests.

What The Video Shows

The video, posted by the Mumbai unit of the Congress on its X handle, shows a group of young people inside a police van, appearing to have been detained from a protest site. A policeman seated in the front can be heard warning them not to return to the protest location.

"If you are seen again here, I will ruin your lives," the policeman is heard telling the students in the video. He then threatens to plant narcotics on them, saying, "I will put 50-50 grams of powder in your bags and your life will be finished." He goes on to say that the protests have made his job difficult. ‘Will Frame You With 50gm Powder’: Mumbai Congress Accuses Policeman of Threatening Student Protesters, Shares Video.

Mumbai Police Suspends Officer After Viral Video Shows Him Threatening Students With Fake Drug Case

एक वायरल वीडियो में दावा किया गया है कि @MumbaiPolice प्रदर्शन कर रहे छात्रों को धमका रही है कि अगर वे दोबारा प्रदर्शन करने लौटे, तो उन्हें झूठे ड्रग्स के मामले में फँसा दिया जाएगा और पूरी ज़िंदगी जेल में सड़ना पड़ेगा।

अगर यह सच है, तो यह सिर्फ़ छात्रों को डराने की कोशिश नहीं,… pic.twitter.com/36KescEmro

— Mumbai Congress (@INCMumbai) July 23, 2026

Congress Reaction

Sharing the video, the Mumbai Congress said, "A viral video claims that @MumbaiPolice is threatening protesting students that if they return to demonstrate again, they will be framed in false drug cases and forced to rot in jail for their entire lives."

The party added, "If this is true, it's not just an attempt to intimidate students, but a direct attack on democratic rights. Raising one's voice is not a crime. Students' questions should be answered with accountability, not threats." Thackeray Cousins Hit Streets Over NEET Row, Call for Massive Mumbai March.

Police Response And Suspension

Taking serious note of the video, Mumbai Police has initiated an inquiry into its authenticity and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Pending the outcome, the officer identified as the driver seen in the video has been removed from his current posting. Police officials said further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

Backdrop Of Ongoing Protests

The controversy comes amid days of large scale protests by students and citizens across key locations in Mumbai, including Shivaji Park, Chembur, and Azad Maidan, in solidarity with the online platform Cockroach Janta Party's stir over examination irregularities.

Mumbai Police's broader approach to containing the protests has also come under scrutiny. According to a report by NDTV, law enforcement authorities across the city have adopted targeted direct contact methods, including digital tracking and doorstep visits, to prevent repeat participation in the demonstrations.

Protesters already named in FIRs or previously served legal notices have reportedly received direct phone calls and messages from local police stations. Social media posts and screenshots have shown instances of senior station personnel instructing individuals to stay home and continuously share their WhatsApp live location to confirm compliance. Legal notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were also issued digitally via messaging apps in the early morning hours, directing recipients to appear for questioning over earlier gatherings.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2026 03:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).