Mumbai: A ticket-checking incident at Kandivli station triggered a ruckus on Friday evening after a woman’s clothes were allegedly partially torn during an encounter with chief ticket inspector (CTI) Priya Ambavade, who had caught her travelling without a valid ticket.A group of people later gathered outside the ticket-checking office and tried to pressure Ambavade to apologise publicly, according to Western Railway (WR).The incident occurred around 7.30pm in the station’s western circulating area during routine checks. WR said Ambavade caught the woman, aged around 25, travelling without a valid ticket. She allegedly requested to be allowed to leave without paying a penalty, but Ambavade continued the prescribed procedure.The woman allegedly tried to flee to evade the process. Ambavade attempted to stop her but lost her balance and fell on the platform. The woman’s clothes were partially torn during the ensuing incident, the WR said.She was then taken to the ticket-checking office for further action. However, three to four unidentified women accompanying her allegedly intervened and forcibly took her away from railway premises, disrupting the official process.The situation escalated when a group of people gathered outside the office and accused Ambavade of using inappropriate language and behaving arrogantly. They allegedly pressured her to apologise publicly, but she refused.Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) intervened to manage the situation and disperse the gathering. Most people left following the intervention, though a few individuals reportedly remained at the spot, with railway authorities monitoring the situation.WR said ticket-checking personnel should be able to perform their duties without intimidation or obstruction. It added that complaints against railway staff should be examined through appropriate channels and on the basis of available evidence.
