Maha minister unfurls flag upside down, blames it on cops

Maharashtra minister unfurled the national flag upside down in a public function but 2 cops had to pay for the minister's goof up.

Two policemen including an assistant police sub inspector (ASI) were placed under suspention in Washim in West Vidarbha on Thursday for their negligence in fixing the tri-colour during Maharashtra Day function.

Maharashtra Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute who is the Gaurdian Minister of district was chief guest at the function and hoisted the flag which was upside down.

A clerk from Maharashtra State Electricity Distrubution Company ltd who was also present at the parade ground function noticed the serious lapse and brought it to the notice of minister.

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The flag was lowered and again hoisted by Pachpute. But the police swung into action and found ASI Tulshiram Chandrabhan Ambhore and police constable Ajay Dayaram Akharao guilty of lapse.

Offences under section two of prevention of insults to national honour act 1971 were registered against the duo and they were placed under suspension for failing in discharging their duties, police said

“It was not the minister’s mistake. The policeman who was supposed to have handed over one of the two flag strings to Pachpute kept it with himself and handed over the other to the minister, resulting in the flag being unfurled in reverse”, sources close to the minister said.

“Anyway, whatever has happened should not have happened. The two policemen who were supposed to have been responsible for the flag and its proper hoisting, have been suspended”, the sources said.