In a video gone viral, Congress MLA Asha Kumari is seen slapping a woman constable on duty during party chief Rahul Gandhi's visit to Himachal Pradesh, only to get two slaps in return from the police official.
Former minister Dhani Ram Shandil had to intervene to quell the frayed tempers.
The Congress MLA later tendered an apology for the incident, saying "the lady constable misbehaved, abused me and almost beat me, but I should not have lost my calm. I am sorry for the incident".
However, the woman constable has filed a complaint against the Congress legislator.
"An FIR has been registered against Kumari under IPC sections 353 and 332 (assault or use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty)," SP, Shimla, Soumya said.
The scuffle broke out when the police refused to allow the MLA into a meeting being chaired by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi is in Shimla to review the Congress' poll performance in the recently-held Himachal elections.
The Congress lost the elections, with the BJP winning 44 seats in the 68-member house. The Congress won 21.