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Ticket Collector (TC) Ashish Pande hails from Uttar Pradesh and currently lives in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area.
In the clip, the TC is purportedly heard making disparaging remarks against Maharashtrians and a minority community.
The Western Railway (WR) has suspended a Mumbai-based Ticket Collector after an audio clip surfaced wherein he is purportedly heard making objectionable remarks against Maharashtra natives and a minority community.
Ticket Collector (TC) Ashish Pande, hailing from Uttar Pradesh and currently residing in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area, was suspended on Sunday, pending an inquiry, the WR’s Mumbai Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) said after the clip’s content triggered an uproar.
The audio clip was on Sunday posted on X by a social media user and it quickly went viral.
In the clip, Pande is purportedly heard making disparaging remarks against Maharashtrians and a minority community.
‘I don’t give business to Muslims & Maharasthrians.I don’t sit in autos of Muslims & Maharashtrians.’– Ashish Pandey, TC in Western Railway who lives in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/a1RRIZXgwM
— Cow Momma (@Cow__Momma) September 22, 2024
Responding swiftly, the Western Railway announced the TC’s suspension on Sunday and ordered an inquiry.
“We take this matter very seriously. The staff commenting adversely about the religious community and Maharashtrians has been suspended immediately, pending an inquiry. A thorough investigation will be conducted to ensure accountability,” the DRM said on X while replying to clip-related comments.
We take this matter very seriously. The staff commenting adversely about the religious community and Maharashtrians has been suspended immediately, pending an inquiry.A thorough investigation will be conducted to ensure accountability. Appropriate actions will be determined…
— DRM – Mumbai Central, WR (@drmbct) September 22, 2024
“Appropriate actions will be determined based on the findings to uphold our standards and ensure the integrity of our services,” the official added.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)