Contractor assault case: MNS corporator released on bail

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator Nitin Nikam was released on bail after he was arrested today for assaulting a 65-year-old private contractor over alleged 'delay' in repairing a damaged water pipeline in Kalyan.

The footage of the assault, which was aired by news channels on Saturday, showed Nikam repeatedly slapping D G Patil over water shortage in Ganeshwadi locality in full public view.

Nikam, who was booked under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), was produced before a Kalyan court which granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 7000, police said.

Patil is a private contractor in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in neighbouring Thane district.

Nikam had summoned Patil following complaints about delays in water pipeline repair work in the area that caused water scarcity.