A shocking incident from Thane, near Mumbai, has sparked widespread outrage after 70-year-old Mr. Sarosh Dastur, a respected senior citizen, was allegedly assaulted by an app-based cab driver after objecting to spitting in a public place.
According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday evening near Jupiter Hospital and Viviana Mall in Thane, where Mr. Dastur was with his wife. He reportedly noticed the cab driver spitting on the road and objected to the act, urging him not to dirty a public space. The situation then escalated violently.
A video of the assault soon circulated widely on social media. In the disturbing footage, the elderly man can be seen being attacked and falling to the ground, while bystanders rush toward him. The video triggered anger across Mumbai, Thane, and beyond, with many citizens describing the incident as a grim reminder of how even basic civic responsibility can provoke violence.
Media reports have identified the accused as Nishant Dhar Shukla, an app-based cab driver. The Vartak Nagar police in Thane arrested him after the video went viral. Reports also state that the accused allegedly abused and beat Mr. Dastur, and that he tried to attack him with stones and tree branches.
The incident drew the attention of Maharashtra’s political leadership. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde reportedly directed the Thane Police to register an attempt-to-murder case against the accused. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also reportedly termed the matter serious and called for stringent action.
We strongly condemn this brutal assault on Mr. Sarosh Dastur.
Violence against senior citizens and socially conscious individuals has no place in any civilized society. A citizen who speaks up for public cleanliness, civic discipline, and the dignity of shared spaces should be respected and supported, not abused or attacked.
Mr. Dastur’s action was simple but significant. He objected to spitting in a public place. He stood up for a cleaner city. He reminded us that civic responsibility is not only the duty of the government or municipal authorities. It is the duty of every citizen.
The attack is especially troubling because it comes at a time when Mumbai’s civic authorities have been tightening sanitation rules. Earlier this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation brought into force its Cleanliness and Sanitation By-laws, 2025. These include penalties for 21 types of civic offences, with fines for littering, public urination, spitting, and other violations. Under the revised framework, spitting in public and littering can attract penalties, while more serious violations carry higher fines.
Yet rules alone cannot build a clean city. Laws may penalize bad behaviour, but a cleaner and safer society also requires a shared moral commitment. It requires citizens who are willing to speak up. It requires bystanders who will intervene. It requires authorities who will act swiftly. And it requires all of us to recognize that public spaces belong to everyone.
The Parsi and Zoroastrian community has long valued public service, civic responsibility, dignity, discipline, and care for the common good. Mr. Dastur’s action reflects these values. He did not remain silent in the face of public indiscipline. He spoke up not for personal gain, but for the larger good of the community and the city.
Community leader Dinshaw Tamboly, reacting to the incident, wrote:
“Such atrocious behavior is what the Buddhists call the monkey mind, where thoughts swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves, spit and howl. Their minds swing wildly unharnessed and undisciplined. In today’s day and times there are unfortunately no dearth of such individuals. Que Sera Sera.”
We appreciate the swift intervention of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde, who took cognisance of the incident and directed strict legal action. We also acknowledge the efforts of the police authorities in promptly investigating the matter and arresting the accused.
At the same time, this incident must not be seen only as a law-and-order matter. It must become a moment of collective reflection. What does it say about us when a senior citizen is attacked for asking someone not to spit on the road? What does it say about our cities when basic civic sense becomes a cause for violence?
A society is judged not by how it treats the powerful, but by how it treats its senior citizens.
We stand firmly with Mr. Sarosh Dastur and his family. We pray for his speedy recovery and thank him for setting an example of responsible citizenship.
Let us unite to build a cleaner, safer, and more compassionate India.