Visitor arrested with live bullet at CM Kejriwal’s Janta Darbar

SECURITY BREACH? The accused, a caretaker of a city mosque, claims it an ‘innocent mistake’; incident comes six days after chilli attack on Kejriwal

NEWDELHI: The caretaker of a city mosque was allegedly caught carrying a live bullet while visiting chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Janta Darbar on Monday morning — six days after a visitor tried to throw chilli powder at the CM in Delhi secretariat, police said.

While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described it as “another attempt on the life of the CM”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said they condemned the incident but politics should not be played over it.

Identified as 39-year-old Mohammad Imran, the man was visiting Janata Darbar with 12 other imams and maulvis to seek an increase in the salaries of the Delhi Waqf Board staff. “The .32 bore live cartridge was recovered from his purse during a search by the security staff at CM’S residence,” said Harendra Singh, additional deputy commissioner of police (north). A case under the Arms Act was registered against him at Civil Lines police station and he was arrested.

Kejriwal has been attacked several times in the past. He has had ink, shoes and slippers thrown at him. On November 20, a man attempted to throw chilli powder at him.

The officer said Imran works as the caretaker (Muezzin) of the Masjid Baoli Wali in Karol Bagh, the same mosque of which his brother is the imam. “He has claimed that he and his brother found the bullet in a donation box two or three months ago and planned to throw it in the Yamuna,” Singh said.

Imran told the police that he had kept the bullet in his purse, but forgot about it. “He was headed to the Yamuna to dispose of the bullet when he received a call about his wife being admitted to a hospital. He forgot to throw it. It was an innocent mistake,” said Imran’s brother, Mohammad Irfan.

ADCP Singh said Imran’s background check revealed that he has no criminal record. “Our probe hasn’t revealed any foul plan by Imran,” he said.

Imran’s colleague at the mosque, Sameer, said he had been working at the mosque for the past 25 years and was a “fan” of Kejriwal. “He always votes for Kejriwal and wouldn’t think of harming him ever,” said Sameer.

“He has attended the Janata Darbar earlier too. He would surely know that a bullet would be discovered during the checking,” said Sameer.

“In the past, we have found nails, documents and tickets in the donation box. Devotees are often absent minded while reaching out to their pockets when giving donations,” said Irfan.

“We contemplated calling the police. But we were afraid that it could lead to unnecessary trouble. So, we decided to dispose it,” said Irfan.

“If the police find Imran to be a criminal, they should prosecute him. If it was an innocent mistake, he shouldn’t be punished,” Irfan said.