My daughter8217;s not lying 8211; Labour Minister

VADODARA, OCT 12: The controversy involving Minister of State for Labour Bhupendra Lakhawala and his daughter hotted up on Sunday, when o...

VADODARA, OCT 12: The controversy involving Minister of State for Labour Bhupendra Lakhawala and his daughter hotted up on Sunday, when one of the two police personnel accused of misbehaving with her categorically denied the charges levelled against them.

Assistant sub-inspector Shyambhai Sharma and constable Balwant R Sisodiya were transferred to the Special Branch following allegations that they had 8220;misbehaved8221; with Lakhawala8217;s daughter, who was one of the two riding pillion on a two-wheeler they had flagged down. They have sought an appointment with Police Commissioner J Mahapatra to present their case.

8220;The charges are totally baseless and manufactured8221;, Sisodiya told The Indian Express. 8220;We stopped the three people riding on the scooter since double pillion is not allowed in Gujarat. Besides, it is dangerous. But when I tried to fine the driver on my superior8217;s orders, the scooter-driver told me the scooter belonged to the minister.8221; However, Sisodiya said, that when he asked the girl hername, she introduced herself as Shreniben Kiritkumar Parikh. 8220;I suspected she was trying to fool us. When I asked her how she could be a minister8217;s daughter if her surname was Parikh, one of the pillion-riders identified herself as the minister8217;s daughter.8221;

8220;She also said the scooter belonged to her and that Parikh was only driving it. But neither had their driving licenses nor their vehicle papers. So we realised a fine of Rs 50 from the driver8221;, Sisodiya said. 8220;Neither of us said anything more than that.8221;

According to Sisodiya, later that day the minister himself drove down to the spot where he was on duty near Nyay Mandir and shouted at him and Sharma.

8220;We explained everything. But the minister called up the police commissioner on his mobile and said, How can we run the government if our children are fined and challaned by constables?8221;8217; Lakhawala, when contacted on Sunday, stuck to his stand. 8220;Constables should respect ministers. A minister8217;s daughter can8217;t lie8221;, he said.