On Sunday afternoon, two constables from the Oshiwara police station, landed up at the shoot of a TV show on the Lokhandwala back road. The shooting was stopped on the pretext that the unit did the pretext that the unit did not have the requisite permissions and they were allegedly asked to pay Rs 22,000.

Says filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, “Producer Vipul Shah had taken all the required permissions from the BMC and o the cops. Yet his production manager was marched to the police station. It was only when I contacted Additional CP (West region) Milind Brahme that they let him go. Shooting resumed after a delay of over three hours. I'm told the constables have received a stern warning."

Pandit added that Vipul and he are now writing an official letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, asking that the two constables be suspended. “Despite assurance by the commissioner, film and TV show units continue to be harassed," he grouses.

Subhash Vele, senior police inspector, Oshiwara police station, said: “We received a call from the control room which is why the unit was called for an inquiry at the police station. Since they had all the required permissions, we let them go."

Vipul wasn't on the set but had heard about the incident. He said: “The cops were under the impression that we didn't have the permissions. The matter was quickly sorted after intervention by higher authorities.“