Claiming he would raise the issue in the legislature, Patil said, “I was at gate no 1 of Gateway of India on November 3, 2017, around noon. Actor Shah Rukh Khan was seen on a boat. He gestured at the crowd from the boat, blew kisses, said hi, hello etc. His gesturing continued for around 15 to 20 minutes from the boat. Many people, including tourists to Gharapuri were waiting to board the boats. I was to board a boat to Alibaug. We all were inconvenienced, as his boat was docked to the staircase.”
Patil added, “In between, the police on ‘bandobast’ duty started pushing people to control the crowd. One of the police personnel pushed me. One senior police officer identified me and made way for me. Then I boarded my boat after first getting into a boat, which had Shah Rukh Khan on board, that was docked near the staircase. I came to know the actor was going to his farmhouse in Alibaug for his birthday.”
However, Patil claimed nothing had transpired between him and Shah Rukh and that he had not shouted at the actor when he was boarding the boat.
However, a video footage of the incident that went on viral on social media shows the MLC shouting at somebody sitting inside the boat. Patil is also heard saying that ‘Shah Rukh may be a superstar, but he does not own Alibaug’.
Patil, however said, “The issue will be raised in the upcoming session of the legislature. Police are unavailable for bandobast duty or when crimes like rape, murder etc take place, but they are easily available to celebrities. The actor should have come out of the boat on to an open space in Gateway of India to greet or be with his fans, rather than inconvenience citizens travelling to Alibaug.”
Asenior police officer said, “Both the ex-minister and the actor reached there. The minister was in a hurry. Shahrukh didn’t say anything and left. Since none of them have approached us, we don’t have any case.”
A public relations person associated with the actor did not respond to calls or messages on the incident.
