A ticket-checking operation at Kandivali railway station turned tense on Friday evening after a woman allegedly attempted to leave without completing the penalty process and a group accompanying her allegedly removed her from the railway premises, according to Western Railway. The incident brought the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) to the station to disperse the gathering and protect railway staff and passengers.
The incident took place at around 7.30 pm in the western circulating area of Kandivali railway station. Chief Ticket Inspector Priya Ambavade, who is attached to Kandivali, was carrying out routine ticket-checking duties when the situation escalated, the railway administration said.
According to the account cited by Western Railway, a woman aged around 25 initially requested that she be allowed to leave without paying the applicable penalty. Ambavade continued with the ticket-checking procedure. Another woman was also found travelling without a valid ticket and paid the required penalty, the railway account stated.
The first woman allegedly tried to flee the station to avoid the ticket-checking process. While attempting to stop her, Ambavade reportedly lost her balance and fell on the platform. The railway account said the woman’s clothing was partially torn during the incident. CCTV footage of the dispute has surfaced, although the circumstances surrounding the fall and the subsequent confrontation are expected to be examined.
The woman was later taken to the ticket-checking office for further action. However, three to four unidentified women accompanying her allegedly intervened and took her away from the railway premises, disrupting the official process, Western Railway said.
The situation intensified when a group gathered outside the ticket-checking office and raised allegations against the inspector, including claims that she had used inappropriate language and behaved arrogantly. According to the railway administration, the group allegedly pressured Ambavade to issue a public apology, which she declined. An individual claiming to be a journalist also approached the inspector for a statement, but she did not comment at that stage.
The GRP and RPF subsequently intervened to manage the gathering and disperse those present. Western Railway said that most people had left the location after the intervention, while a few remained. Authorities were monitoring the station to ensure the safety of railway personnel and passengers and to restore normalcy.
Western Railway said ticket-checking personnel must be able to perform their duties without intimidation or obstruction. It added that allegations concerning railway employees should be examined objectively through the appropriate channels and on the basis of available evidence.
The railway administration reiterated that ticketing rules would be enforced fairly and urged passengers to cooperate with authorised ticket-checking personnel. The available account did not state whether any formal complaint or further action had been filed in connection with the confrontation.
