Police Officer Assaults Restaurant Worker For Allegedly Denying Him Free Food And Alcohol [Video]

A police officer in India has been caught on camera while assaulting a restaurant worker who allegedly denied him free food and alcohol after business hours.

The incident took place around 12.30 a.m. Thursday at a restaurant near the Vakola police station in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where the officer works.

CCTV footage showed Vikram Patil, an assistant police inspector working with the Mumbai Police, repeatedly assaulting Ramdas Patil, the cashier of the restaurant for allegedly refusing to serve food and alcohol after midnight. The cop walked up to the cashier and thrashed him. He then repeatedly slapped the man and pulled on his shirt, while other employees at the establishment tried to intervene. Eventually, the staff member was able to put a stop to the assault.

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

Mahesh Shetty, the owner of the restaurant, said he informed the officer over the phone they were already closed for the day. However, the plain-clothed officer refused to listen and entered the establishment through the rear door after midnight.

According to a complaint filed against the officer, he demanded free food and alcohol before assaulting the staff.

"He barged in, abused and assaulted the cashier, Ramdas Patil when told that their staff had left for home," Shetty was cited as saying by The Times of India.

Shetty plans to meet with senior officers and have the non-cognizable complaint turned into a criminal offense.

Meanwhile, Shivanand Shetty, president of the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, condemned the attack on the restaurant worker.

"We strongly condemn this incident which not only brings bad name to the Police force but causes local business owners to lose trust in the local law enforcement agencies," he said, as per The Free Press Journal. "Restaurant owners want nothing more than to peacefully conduct their business and hence we request that very strict action be initiated on the cop to prevent such occurrences wherein law enforcers become lawbreakers."

S. Chaitanya, deputy commissioner of police, said the Mumbai Police Department has initiated disciplinary action against Patil.

In a similar incident, a woman in Texas recently threw a container full of hot soup at a restaurant cashier's face. The upset customer allegedly complained to the worker that her soup was so hot that it melted the plastic lid of her container. She then verbally attacked the staff member and threw the soup at her.