Assistant Sub Inspector Sunil L Sangle and constable Akil S Shaikh, who were arrested after Thomson Varghese Thomas (22) lodged a first information report (FIR) against them, were produced before a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and released on bail on Tuesday afternoon.

Interestingly, the two policemen were members of a team which had bared Oturkar's alleged links with Gawli gang and arrested him on charges of opening fire at two young businessman two years back.

Meanwhile, the two policemen have recorded statements with the Deccan Gymkhana police denying the allegations that they thrashed up Thomas in an inebriated condition. They claimed that they had gone to check Jaykumar Oturkar's activities in official capacity when the incident took place.

Thomas alleged in the FIR that he, his woman friend Kavitoli, Oturkar and his nephew Nikhil Bhavsar were watching a television programme around 9.05 p.m. on Sunday when the two policemen barged inside and claimed they were there to check Oturkar's activities.

The policemen, Thomas alleged, accused the occupants of the house of running a prostitution racket and subjected them to foul language. They assaulted Thomas when he and Bhavsar started grumbling about their behaviour, the FIR said.

Meanwhile, the two constables have recorded statements with Deccan Gymkhana police denying the allegations. The two policemen claimed that they lost their temper when Thomas started abusing them and manhandled him.

According to top police officials, a watch is being kept on Oturkar's activities ever since his alleged links with the Gawli gang came to light two years back. Oturkar and Gawli gang member Sanjay alias Sushant Jagannath Patil were arrested on charges of opening fire at director of Vyankateshwara Hatcheries Balaji Rao and owner of Ten Downing Pub Mohan Reddy in 1996. They were also accused in a vehicle theft case recorded at Sahakarnagar police station. Both the cases are still pending in the court.