New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra Tuesday expressed serious concern over the law and order situation in the city after a purported video of BSP leader's son brandishing a weapon at a five-star hotel went viral on social media.
"I really fear for the safety of our children and the people of our city, the capital of our country," he said in a Facebook post.
"What is the Law and Order prevailing and who is accountable? Has the Chief Minister seen what is existing and will they make an example of this insane behaviour with guns and profanity?" he said.
Vadra also posted a few pictures of the incident showing a young man wearing pink trousers brandishing a gun at the hotel.
"There were a bunch of children having dinner at the hotel and other friends, earlier... God help us," he said in the post.
A complaint about the incident was received by the police Monday from the assistant security manager of Hyatt Regency Hotel in RK Puram, following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued, police said.
An FIR was registered in the case, a senior police officer said. The incident occurred on the intervening night of October 13 and 14, he added.
In the video, Ashish Pandey, who is the son of BSP leader Rakesh Pandey, can purportedly be seen brandishing a gun in the foyer of the hotel, the officer said.
According to police sources, the man has been identified as Ashish Pandey, son of ex-BSP MP Rakesh Pandey. His brother, Ritesh Pandey, is a sitting MLA from Jalalpur in Ambedkar Nagar, UP. The accused Ashish deals in real estate business and is based in Lucknow.
In the viral video, the man wearing black T-shirt and pink trouser is seen threatening a couple allegedly over parking.
Ashish can be heard abusing and warning the man even as the staff of the hotel attempts to calm him down. The suspect is joined by a woman friend who also threatens the victim. The video is apparently shot by another woman who was in the suspect's BMW car.
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.
The victim told a news channel that the man with the gun walked up to him and hurled abuses.
"A man with a gun hurled abuses at us and walked up threateningly. I was intimidated and scared. The hotel staff were present at the spot. They tried to intervene but could not as they were also scared," the victim claimed.
The police said it had issued a Look Out Circular and also contacted their counterparts in Uttar Pradesh.
Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Ajay Chaudhary said on the incident took place on October 14 at 3.40 am.
"No complain was lodged by the victim and the hotel staff on the same day. There is negligence on the part of three parties- the victim, hotel authorities and the accused," he said.
"The police have registered a case. We are coordinating with the UP Police and teams are looking out for him. We have added the relevant sections based on the video. A Look Out Circular has been opened up for him," he said.
He said the police are also trying to trace the victim. A police team has left for Lucknow to arrest Ashish.
Hyatt Regency issued a statement over the incident and said "The safety & security of our guests is our primary concern. We take the incident seriously & have been working with the local police authorities on the same."
