Man shoots 19-yr-old while filming video

NEWDELHI: Returning home after a quick drive to India Gate, a 19-year-old man was shot dead, allegedly by his friend, inside the car the two, along with a friend, were travelling in on the Ranjit Singh Flyover near Connaught Place on Saturday night, the police said.

Madhur Verma, the deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), said that Suhail Malik, the 24-year-old suspect arrested for the murder, claimed the shot was fired “accidentally” when they drove over an uneven stretch of the road while filming a video for the Tiktok app.

However, the DCP said Suhail wasn’t getting the benefit of the doubt as he tried to destroy evidence by getting rid of his bloodstained clothes and hiding the countrymade pistol.

Two others were arrested for allegedly destroying evidence — Suhail’s cousin Aamir Malik, the third occupant of the car, and their friend Sharif, who allegedly helped hide the clothes and pistol.

The victim, Mohammad Salman, lived with his family in north-east Delhi’s New Jafrabad. His father owns a jeans-manufacturing unit and Salman sometimes used to assist him.

Suhail and Aamir lived in the same neighbourhood as Salman. Suhail’s father deals in plywood and owns houses in New Jafrabad as well as in Daryaganj.

The DCP said that the trio had left for India Gate around 9.45pm on Saturday in a white Hyundai Creta owned by Salman’s cousin. Salman was behind the wheel, Suhail was seated next to him and Aamir was on the rear seat. The incident took place on the Ranjeet Singh Flyover, just after Barakhamba, the DCP said.

Police said the pistol was allegedly in Suhail’s hand. “Suhail has told us that he was holding his pistol in his hand to record a video for the Tiktok app. As they passed by the Lalit Hotel around 10.30pm, an uneven part of the flyover caused the car to lurch, leading to the shot being fired,” the DCP said. Thereafter, the two men allegedly moved the injured Salman to the passenger seat as they drove the car to Suhail’s second home in Daryaganj. Suhail and Aamir left for New Jafrabad to dispose off their blood-stained clothes and the pistol while Suhail’s relatives rushed Salman to Lok Nayak Hospital.

“None of them informed the police about the shooting,” the DCP said.

ARRESTED SUSPECT CLAIMS BUMP IN THE ROAD MADE HIM ‘ACCIDENTALLY’ FIRE FROM PISTOL THAT HE WAS POSING WITH