Former MP’S son brandishes gun at Delhi 5-star hotel

Former MP’S son pointing his gun at a man after heated arguments in a five-star hotel in Delhi comes in the wake of many fatal incidents involving firearms

NEW DELHI: In a brazen act of power, the son of a former BSP MP was booked for allegedly brandishing a gun at guests and threatening them in the foyer of a five-star hotel here, a video of which went viral on social media.

The accused, Ashish Pandey, hails from Lucknow and is the son of former BSP MP Rakesh Pandey. His brother, Ritesh Pandey, is a sitting MLA in Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

“A male is seen brandishing a weapon in the footage. Accordingly, a case under section 25/27 (Arms Act) of the IPC has been registered. Legal action is being taken as per law,” said DCP South West Devender Arya.

The complaint about the incident was received Monday from the assistant security manager of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in RK Puram, following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued, they said.

The Hyatt Regency in Delhi maintained that it is taking “seriously” the incident and will cooperate with the authorities in the investigation.

Ashish Pandey accompanied by his female friends was seen holding a pistol in his right-hand hurling expletives at a couple who stood frightened holding each other. It is said that the scuffle started after Ashish entered the ladies restroom. The act was filmed by one of Ashish’s friends sitting in the car.

After the video of the incident went viral, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the police had initiated action in the case.

“The Delhi Police has initiated action on this incident which is also being shown in the media. An FIR has been registered under the Arms Act and the IPC. Strong and appropriate action will be taken. Also verifying the identity of others,” the minister tweeted.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra also expressed grave concern over the law and order situation in the city following the incident.

Meanwhile, a five-member team of Delhi police officers flew to Lucknow to arrest the accused. He was not found at his residence at Hazratganj based Santushti Apartment in Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh DGP was also quick to form three teams to trace Ashish Pandey. His premises in Gomtinagar was raided too.

“We have issued a Look Out Circular for the accused so that he can’t travel abroad from any airport in the country, we are confident of arresting him,” said Ajay Chowdhary, Joint CP Delhi Police.

NEW DELHI: In a brazen show of power, a former MP’S son flaunts a sophisticated gun while threatening a woman at a five-star hotel in Delhi in a video that once again captures the rising gun culture in Delhi and NCR area.

Police claimed that they ha ve taken up the issue of arms trafficking with other states and also put in an all-out effort to curb violent crimes. In December 2017, a New Year celebration in Greater Kailash bar turned violent as a 30-year-old man was shot after an argument over dance. Police claimed that the accused was caught by the public and later he was arrested whereas in April last year, a Class XII student was shot at outside south Delhi’s Saket District Centre following a brawl in a pub, police said.

A renowned psychiatrist claimed that these powerdriven people have lost social connectivity and are indulging themselves in such kind of anti-social activity under the influence of their power. They are seeking attention from their kind of people “Such people are so insignificant that they do endorse the environment in which they live,” said the psychiatrist.

According to police, easy availability of arms and ammunition is always a cause of concern. Additional PRO (Delhi Police) claimed that they have taken up the issue of gun trafficking during the Interstate Coordination Meetings with the representatives of other state. The other worrying trend is the reason behind the murder as the Delhi Police data accessed by the Millennium Post claimed that till September 15, around 337 murders took place in the city and a further analysis by investigating agency revealed that in 18.69 per cent cases the reason for the murder was sudden anger.

In September this year, in Taimoor Nagar area, a CCTV footage of a crime scene surfaced where the victim was shot dead within a few seconds by an armed assailant in front of his house and children. The footage shockingly shows passersby doing nothing to help the victim. It has led to several protests and traffic snarls in the area.

The same accused were involved in another case where a driver was shot dead after he did not give way to their vehicle in Kotla Mubarakpur area of South Delhi in September.

The gun culture once again surfaced and this time in Anand Vihar area. A young man, Mohit, was shot dead late last night at Anand Vihar. He was on the way home when he saw two men robbing a businessman of his cash. Even though he caught hold one of the robbers, the second one shot him and Mohit died on the spot.

Suspects are on the run and police are on the lookout for them. The area where the incident occurred has seen other cases of robbery as well.

In June 2014, a dispute over water connection resulted in the death of a 45-year-old man who was shot dead by his neighbour in South Delhi’s Sangam Vihar area. Police claimed that they have arrested five persons in this case. The wife and children of the deceased were also injured in the incident whereas in another case which also took place in June this year, a gang war resulted in the death of three persons including a woman in North Delhi’s Burari area. Five persons were injured and hospitalised after the gunfight between the Tillu and Gogi gangs, believed to be involved in cases of extortion and murder in the city.

In Gurugram, fear, shock and inaction were witnessed on the streets after a security guard fired gunshots at Judge Krishna Kant Sharma’s son and wife on Saturday. Krishna Kant Sharma is the Additional Sessions Judge at Court 12 in District Court Gurugram.

In another shocking incident which happened in July this year, a former journalist was brutally murdered in broad daylight on the street. The deceased who has been identified as Surender Singh Rana succumbed to his injuries after five gunshots were pumped into his body.