Delhi 5-star hotel gun incident Latest Updates: Ashish Pandey surrenders in Patiala House Court, sent to one-day police remand
The court's directive came after Ashish, son of former BSP MP Rakesh Pandey, surrendered before the judge.
The Patiala House Court in Delhi on Thursday sent Ashish Pandey, who was wanted for brandishing gun in a five-star hotel, to one-day police remand. The court's directive came after Ashish, son of former BSP MP Rakesh Pandey, surrendered before the judge.
After the surrender, Delhi Police formally arrested the accused and sought four days remand to investigate the case further. But they were granted only one-day's permission.
Public prosecutor told the court, that the police needed the custodial remand as the accused needs to be taken Lucknow and the weapon also had to be recovered. While Ashish Pandey's counsel clarified that they have submitted the pistol's license in the court.
Also read | Hyatt hotel incident: Delhi Court issues non-bailable warrant against Ashish Pandey
Pandey's counsel opposed the remand application, saying, "We're ready for cooperation. We can deposit our pistol also. My client is suffering just due to media hype, and because his father was an MP. This matter is politically motivated."
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Earlier, Pandey approached the court via a written request to surrender. The request submitted in the court says that Pandey has been 'wrongly framed in the FIR without fault and has been subjected to media trial'.
"The applicant (is) voluntary ready to submit before his Hon'ble Court in the above stated FIR," it states.
In the letter, Pandey has requested the court to accept his accept his surrender 'in the interest of justice'.
In a video message to the media, Ashish earlier tried to explain his innocence. "I am being projected like I am a wanted terrorist and police across the nation is looking for me. Look Out Circular has been issued against me. If you check CCTV footage, you will find who went to ladies toilet that night and who threatened whom," Ashish claimed in the video.
He explained that he took the gun with me for safety. "I didn't brandish it. It was hanging behind me all the time. I didn't even address that girl, she pushed me and made obscene hand gestures," the UP businessman said.
"I've faith in judiciary and so I decided to surrender. There is no history of police case against me," he claimed.
Panday's family friend Anoop told India TV that the accused has no intention to seek bail and want Delhi Police to investigate the matter properly. "Ashish has been wrongly framed on the basis of media trial. He could not come and surrender earlier because he was travelling for work to Lucknow. As soon as he realised that there was a circular against him, he returned to Delhi and is now in front of the court," Anoop said, adding that being a member of a political family has proved to be a bane for Ashish in the matter.
Anoop also said that Ashish has license for the gun he carried to hotel.
Earlier, it was reported that Ashish had requested his friends and family to not let the video of his mistake go viral. In a message to a Whatsapp group.
“Dear friends, there is a viral video of me going around. It was a mistake, I made a mistake and I apologise for it. At this time, need you to stand by me and help me stopping this video going viral. I am really sorry I disappointed you and myself. Help me sort this mess up please,” he wrote in a WhatsApp group.
On Wednesday, a non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against Ashish for brandishing the firearm and threatening a man and a woman following an argument at the R K Puram hotel. Police have recorded the statement of the duo, as well as of Ashish’s friends and relatives from Delhi and Lucknow.