Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde orders attempt to murder case against cab driver for assaulting elderly man over spitting

THANE: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday directed Thane Police to register an attempt to murder case against a cab driver accused of assaulting an elderly man who objected to him allegedly spitting on a road near Jupiter Hospital.The incident occurred on Tuesday evening.According to a statement from Shinde’s office, the elderly man confronted the driver over the alleged act, following which the driver assaulted him and caused serious injuries.The accused is reportedly from outside Maharashtra.A video of the incident that has gone viral on social media allegedly shows the driver picking up a stone and trying to strike the elderly man.The statement further claimed that workers of the Shiv Sena led by Shinde later located the accused, "taught him a lesson," and handed him over to the Vartak Nagar Police."If a person is brutally assaulted merely for pointing out that someone is littering, it will not be accepted at any cost," deputy CM Shinde was quoted as saying in the statement.The deputy chief minister directed Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre to invoke Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the accused.However, police officials said no case has been registered so far as the injured man has not yet approached the police or filed a formal complaint.