NEW DELHI: A former MP's son waves a gun while threatening a woman at a five-star hotel in Delhi, in a video that once again captures the arrogance of power and egregious "VIP culture". The young man is Ashish Pandey, the son of Uttar Pradesh politician Rakesh Pandey, a former parliamentarian of Mayawati's BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party). His brother Ritesh is a BSP lawmaker.
In the 90-second clip shot on a mobile phone, Ashish Pandey has a gun in his hands as he argues with a woman and threatens her, allegedly after she objected to him walking into the women's washroom. Pandey's woman friend and a security guard are seen trying to hold him back and calm him down. Pandey is then dragged away by the hotel staff as he continues to shout expletives and threats. When he finally sits in his car, three women with him laugh and shout at the woman who was targeted by Pandey.
The incident took place at 3.40 am on Sunday October 14, after a party. They drove off in their BMW, unchecked by the hotel staff.
The BSP distanced itself from Ashish Pandey. "Whoever he is, a proper investigation should be done and action should be taken. The incident doesn't have any connection with BSP. He is neither a leader nor a member of BSP," said the party's Sudhindra Bhadoria.
The Delhi police charged Pandey with the Arms Act but is yet to locate and arrest him.
A Look-Out circular, which alerts the police at borders, airports and railway stations about a wanted man, has been issued.
"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," said Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Ajay Chaudhary.
The woman at the receiving end of Pandey's threats and abuses told a news channel she was scared and so were the hotel staff.
"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 woman said.
Former Congress lawmaker from Delhi's Model Town, Kunwar Karan Singh, whose son Gaurav was with the woman that evening, said this incident has come as a shock for their family. "Whatever we had to say, we have told the Delhi police. We have complete faith in the police and law. But we are scared. Whatever happened with my son should not happen with me or my family."
The video has provoked outrage and disgust on social media. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has also tweeted about it.