Attack on Sonu Nigam: Cops Book MLA’s son, Sister Apologises

Sonu Nigam was leaving a concert in Chembur late on a Monday night when the incident happened.

The son of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Prakash Phaterpekar was arrested by Mumbai Police on Tuesday and charged with assaulting playback singer Sonu Nigam on Monday night. The Indian Singers Rights Association (ISRA) denounced the incident, which turned out to be the second selfie-related incident in a week.

Sanjay Tandon, the CEO of ISRA, stated that they are extremely outraged to learn about the serious attack on Nigam and his team on Monday night following the Chembur Festival 2023.

All singers of the country are in shock and are concerned about this… We request the Maharashtra government and law enforcement agencies to take serious note of the matter and try to ensure that such incidents are not repeated with any singer/artiste whatsoever,” Tandon said while talking about the attack on Sonu Nigam.

Hemrajsingh Rajput, the Zone VI deputy commissioner of police, stated earlier on Tuesday that the incident happened when Sonu Nigam was leaving a concert in Chembur late on Monday night.

After the concert, Nigam was coming down from the stage when a person named Swapnil P. Phaterpekar stopped him for a selfie. When Nigam refused, he pushed the singer and two others from the steps, with one sustaining injury. We have booked only one accused (Swapnil Phaterpekar) for the incident… The other volunteers came to the aid of Nigam who was taken away from there safely,” Rajput said

As the jostling occurred at around 11.30 p.m., Swapnil Phaterpekar, President of Sanskar Pratisthan and holder of MBA degrees from London and Mumbai, allegedly raced towards Nigam for taking a selfie but was prevented by his security staff.

Once Nigam finished performing, Swapnil attempted to take a selfie with him, according to his sister Suprada Phaterpekar, a member of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women.

Due to the rush, a commotion ensued. The person who fell was taken to the Zen Hospital and was discharged after examination, Sonu Nigam was unhurt,” she said.

“On behalf of the organising team, we have officially apologised to Sonu Nigam and his team for the unpleasant incident. Please do not believe any baseless rumours and those who are trying to politicise the matter,” Suprada said

The singer received an apology from Swapnil’s father Prakash MLA Phaterpekar after he acknowledged that what had transpired was inappropriate but maintained that it had not been a planned attack.

Sonu Nigam thereafter filed a complaint with the police, who then filed a case against Swapnil using a number of Indian Criminal Code provisions.

After India cricketer Prithvi Shaw’s vehicle was attacked and destroyed outside a five-star hotel late on February 15th, this is the second selfie-related incident that has alarmed celebrities in Mumbai.