Mumbai railway police have suspended two constables posted at Borivali Government Railway Police (GRP) chowky after an inquiry found that they allegedly released a passenger despite discovering drugs in his luggage and receiving money, according to a report by the Times of India.
The incident took place on the night of September 8 during baggage checks at Borivali station. The constables, Lawrence Navghare and Rakesh Sonawane, allegedly found drugs in a passenger’s bag but did not inform their superiors. They reportedly took the passenger to the first floor of the railway police station, made a monetary demand and released him after he paid.
The two officers were suspended on September 12 after senior officials learnt about the incident and ordered an inquiry. Both were posted with the Borivali GRP chowky at the time. The report does not identify the passenger or specify the substance and quantity allegedly found in the luggage.
The constables’ actions were found to be in violation of an operating procedure issued by GRP commissioner M Rakesh Kalasagar in September last year for conducting baggage checks, the report said. The procedure was intended to set out how officers should handle luggage inspections and suspected contraband during railway policing operations.
The case places attention on the accountability mechanisms operating inside busy suburban railway stations, where GRP personnel conduct checks and exercise direct authority over passengers. A baggage inspection can quickly become a law-enforcement matter when prohibited substances are suspected, making the recording of searches, movement of passengers and seizure procedures central to the integrity of the process.
Passenger rights activist Samir Zaveri called for wider use of surveillance and recording equipment within railway policing facilities. “A permanent solution to prevent corruption, extortion and misuse of power is to install cameras in every room, office or corner of the police station,” Zaveri said, according to the report. He also proposed body cameras for on-duty GRP personnel, Railway Protection Force staff and ticket checkers to improve transparency and accountability.
The suspension follows another recent disciplinary case involving GRP personnel. Earlier in September, two constables were suspended for allegedly facilitating the transport of banned gutka from Gujarat to Mumbai. One of those constables, Anil Gujjar, was posted at Borivali GRP chowky, while the other, Tushar Thakur, was posted at Vasai GRP chowky.
The latest case is now subject to the action arising from the GRP inquiry. The report did not specify whether a criminal case had been registered against the suspended constables or what further proceedings would follow.
