Aug 13 (Mumbai Mirror): State Transport Minister Diwakar Raote's son Unmesh, 38, was booked under the Bombay Police Act for indecent behaviour in public after he allegedly used foul language during a heated argument with a traffic constable in Mahim early Wednesday morning. Unmesh got into the alleged argument when the officer wanted to verify if he and his friend were drunk. Raote, however, said that Unmesh and his friend were on their way home when they were stopped at a nakabandi. He also claimed that his son does not drink.

Weeks ago, Raote himself had stopped two women constables in south Mumbai after they were found without helmets, and had ordered a traffic cop to fine the constables.

Police sources said Unmesh, an IT professional, was in the passenger's seat while his car was parked near Hinduja Hospital around 2 am. "The constable suspected that the two men were under the influence of alcohol and wanted to ensure that they wouldn't drive the car. He asked Unmesh for his licence, which resulted in the argument," the source said.

Mahim traffic division officials initially denied the incident, claiming there was no mention of it in the station diary. "In all these years, I have never seen my son drink," Raote told Mirror. The minister also claimed that Unmesh and his friend were on their way home when they were stopped at a nakabandi. "The constable asked for his licence. Unmesh asked him why he wanted his licence when he was seated in the passenger's seat. He, however, handed over his licence. The officer saw his full name, which had my name in it too. The officer then asked him how he was related to me, and he said 'My father has nothing to do with this'," Raote said.

Unmesh was charged under section 110 (behaving indecently in public) of the Bombay Police Act and fined Rs 1,200. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dhananjay Kulkarni said, "Relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act were applied in the case and the man was let go."