A paparazzi photo-op outside a tony eatery in Bandra (West) turned into a fistfight on Thursday night between the restaurant’s bouncers and some photojournalists. The photographers were waiting outside Bastian restaurant on Linking Road for a glimpse of actor Shilpa Shetty, who was dining there with her husband, Raj Kundra.
Following a complaint by the photojournalists, an FIR was registered at Khar police station against the bouncers. Based on pictures of the assault taken by the other photographers at the scene and CCTV footage, police identified and arrested Narendra Kunchikurve (29) and Ashutosh Kadare (24).
Bandra brawl: (Clockwise from top) Bouncers employed by Bastian restaurant brutally assaulting a photojournalist in Bandra on Thursday; an injured photographer at the scene; Shilpa Shetty leaving the restaurant
Police said the incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Thursday. “When the couple exited the restaurant and were walking towards their car, the photographers rushed to take pictures. The bouncers employed by the restaurant tried to stop them,” Police Inspector Nandkumar Gopale, Khar police station, said.
The photographers protested, and the altercation quickly turned violent. Two of the photographers, Robin Chawla and Himanshu Shinde, sustained injuries after allegedly being assaulted by the bouncers.
Other photographers at the spot immediately intervened and took their injured colleagues to a nearby hospital, after which they approached Khar police station. “The accused were produced in court on Friday and were granted bail,” Mr. Gopale said.
Film actress shilpa shetty with raj kundra at bestin bandra last night
Kelvin Cheung, Corporate Chef and Consultant, Aallia Hospitality which owns the restaurant, said, “We’re saddened and shocked by the incident that took place outside Bastian last night. We have celebrities and well-known guests visiting us frequently, and every experience has so far been smooth. During last night’s incident, the people involved were personnel hired for Bastian via external vendors. As is the practice, the security agency assigns their personnel to us and other establishments based on availability. All Bastian staff and the management were on the second floor at the time of the incident; we came to know a while after it began.”
“This was a highly unfortunate situation that escalated beyond anything we could have imagined. As soon as the Bastian team found out, we took remedial measures. We are changing security agencies today as we do not want to take the risk of this happening again. We will also be personally apologising to the mediapersons involved. We are also collecting information to offer to take care of all medical bills.”
Meanwhile, in a statement on her official Instagram account, Ms. Shetty said, “Omg, appalled and disappointed at the way these photographers were bashed up.. Really unnecessary...Feel bad for the paps they stand for hrs sometimes for a shot.. They are part of my fraternity and no one needs to be beaten for doing his job. Absolutely condemn what happened (sic).”
