Former BSP leader's son brandishes gun at hotel; police registers FIR

New Delhi: 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 Delhi Police said an FIR has been registered under the Arms Act and sections of the IPC, including those related to causing hurt (323), criminal intimidation (506) and using force with the intent to outrage the modesty of a woman (354). 

Initially the case was registered under the Arms Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were added later, police said, adding that they have also reached out to their Uttar Pradesh counterparts. 

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.  

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 serious concern over the law and order situation in the city following the incident. 

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, police said. In the video, Ashish Pandey can purportedly be seen brandishing a gun in the foyer of the hotel, a police officer said. 

One of the victims told a news channel that the accused, who held the gun, walked up to him and hurled abuses. 

Police said the security staff of the hotel told them that the accused and the victims were partying at a nightclub in the hotel and had an argument over using the washroom. 

A woman accompanying the accused abused the victims and called them "transgenders", a senior officer privy to the probe said. It is suspected that both the parties involved were drunk at the time of the incident, he said. 

He said after the video went viral, police contacted the hotel authorities and then they lodged the complaint. 

"No complaint 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 Uttar Pradesh Police and teams are looking out for him.