‘Moral cop’ Vasant Dhoble retires after 39 years of service in the force

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Vasant Dhoble, after having served in the police force for 39 years, retired on Saturday. He was known as the face of moral policing in Mumbai.

"Feels like I am going to be free today," said the retired ACP, during his farewell, as reported by the Indian Express.

"Will definitely miss the department (police) since I would have no powers to take action against illegal activities," he added.

In 2012, when Dhoble was the head of the Social Service Branch of the police, he was in the news for conducting raids at eating outlets, and pubs, reportedly often wielding a hockey stick and citing outdated rules.

The Indian Express reported that between April and June 2012, he raided Amar juice center in Vile Parle West, Cafe Zoe in Lower Parel and restaurant Masala Curry in Andheri West, where he detained 11 women on the suspicion of being involved in sex racket. A fruit vendor in Santacruz East allegedly died of a heart attack in January 2013 while fleeing from Dhoble.

As per the report, before the farewell ceremony began, Dhoble claimed he is relieved that his name has been cleared in the 108 cases registered against him.

"I leave without any blemishes or controversies," he said, adding that he will always remember November 23, 2014, as that was the day all the cases against him were closed.

Dhoble worked with the Missing Bureau during the last few months of his tenure.