However, the City SP, on the same day gave clean chit to the SHO by stating that he was not drunk.

Initially on Sunday the SSP told media that he was not aware of the incident. However, later in the day he said that whatever allegations are being levelled against the SHO would come to the fore during the investigation.

He said the organizer of the programme, Youthlink, had taken permission to hold the programme till 8 PM. The organizer was asked to stop the programme as it continued even after the allotted time.

Youthlink head Nabeel accepted that the organization had taken permission to hold the programme from 4:30 PM to 8 PM but added that the programme started at around 6 PM. At around 8 PM, the local police asked the organizers to stop the programme saying the time had lapsed. Upon this the organizers contacted the local police station and sought 30 minutes more time to conclude the function.

“We got the permission from the local police,” he said and added that at around 8:45 PM, the SHO Shukla reached the spot and allegedly misbehaved with the entire Band group and lead singer Palash Sen also.

As reported the SHO used abusive language and shouted at the organizers. Upon this the programmes was abruptly stopped.
However, Shukla denied that he was drunk and that he had misbehaved with the Band group. “I was standing at the venue and when the organizer exceeded the permitted time, I requested him to stop the programme,” he told media.
Some Band members and their entourage accused that Shukla was in inebriated state. Many of those present to watch the show corroborated the allegation. They also accused the police with misbehaving with audience and using lathis to disperse them.
Later talking to media the lead singer of Euphoria Band Palash Sen strongly denounced the police action. “I never expected to face such harassment, that too from policemen in a state that talks of good governance,” was how he reacted.
The police crack down came when around 3,000 people had gathered for the musical treat. Eyewitnesses said that when the Band members tried to pacify the police officer and inform him that the show would anyway end in 10 to 15 minutes, Shukla started abusing them.
The public relations in-charge for the concert, Alok Kumar and Palash Sen both tried to pacify Nityanand Shukla but he was not ready to listen to them. Instead, he started misbehaving and abusing them. Alok said that he felt he was inebriated.
City superintendent of police (SP) Ms Kim said: “Euphoria was given four hours––from 4 PM to 8 PM—for their performance. But despite several requests they continued with the show till 8.40 PM. She also denied allegations that the Gardanibagh SHO was drunk and misbehaved with the artistes.
She said if the singer had any problem with the behaviour of any police personnel, he should have lodged a formal complaint. Till now, no written protest has been lodged by anyone.
Palash Sen on his part said even the Supreme Court had allowed people to play loudspeakers till 10 PM. Music concerts cannot start and end at a fixed time.

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