Encounter specialist fired for shooting for film without permission

Mumbai: A police officer who had essayed the role of an encounter specialist in the film Ab Tak Chhappan was dismissed from service on Tuesday by the police commissioner. The officer, inspector Pravin Patil, had gone on leave and travelled outside the country to shoot for the movie, without taking the mandatory permission from his superiors. He had also travelled to Bangkok and Hong Kong on a trip funded by the wife of an accused who was arrested in a cheating case by Patil.                                                                      Pravin Patil (face circled) in Ab Tak Chhappan

Patil, who was attached with the Protection branch, had gone to London to shoot for the film. "From December 11-20, 2005, Patil along with his wife Sangita, who is also police inspector attached with the Crime Branch Unit 9, had gone for the shooting. His daughter Kalyani and son Om also accompanied them.

"It is mandatory for every police inspector to take permission from the department before leaving the country. Patil did not do so," said a senior officer from the Mumbai police.

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