Singer Sonu Nigam manhandled at a music concert over a selfie

Singer Sonu Nigam and two of his colleagues were manhandled by an MLA’s son, during a scuffle over taking a selfie, at a musical event in Mumbai recently. As per reports, Sonu’s colleague was injured in the incident which took place at Chembur Gymkhana on Monday night after the singer's live performance.

A video of the incident later surfaced on social media platforms. Based on a complaint filed by Sonu, the Chembur police registered an FIR against Swapnil Phaterpekar, the son of local Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Phaterpekar, under Indian Penal Code sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), an official said.

According to the singer’s complaint, he and his colleagues were leaving the stage after the performance when a man, later identified as Swapnil, came from the back and caught hold of the singer. The accused apparently wanted to take a selfie with him.

"I fell on the steps after I was pushed. Rabbani (colleague) came to save me and was pushed from behind. He could have died. I filed a complaint because people must ponder over it when they force someone for a selfie,” the singer said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VI) Hemrajsingh Rajput said that the incident occurred when Sonu was coming out of a concert in Chembur late on Monday night.

"After the concert, Sonu was coming down from the stage when a person named Swapnil P. Phaterpekar stopped him for a selfie, when the singer refused, he pushed the singer and two others from the steps, and one sustained injury. We have booked only one accused (Swapnil Phaterpekar) for the incident. The other volunteers came to the aid of the singer and he was taken away from there safely," the DCP said.

Swapnil Phaterpekar, President of Sanskar Pratisthan and holding a MBA degree from London and Mumbai, allegedly ran after Sonu for clicking a selfie when the jostling took place, around 11.30 p.m, but was stopped by his security personnel.

On his part, his father the MLA Phaterpekar admitted that what happened was wrong but contended that it was not a deliberate attack, but he felt guilty over it and tendered an apology on behalf of his son to the singer.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS)