New Delhi: Three days after an Indian Army Brigadier and his son were allegedly thrashed by a group of men in Vasant Enclave in southwest Delhi, the Delhi Police arrested two men Tuesday afternoon in connection with the case, which erupted over public drinking.
One of the accused, Satender alias Sonu, 49, is a resident of Mehram Nagar. According to police, Satender is the director of Chaudhary Aviation Pvt Ltd, a firm that provides flight services, including chartered flights and cargo flights, as well as deals in the sale and purchase of aircraft and parts.
The other accused, Sanjay Sharma, 56, is also from Mehram Nagar and runs the ‘Pundit Ji Dhaba’ in the locality.
According to the police, the accused revealed during sustained interrogation that the situation escalated when the Brigadier’s family objected to them drinking inside their Mercedes car and to the loud noise they were making in the neighbourhood.
The police have since seized the car.
“The accused were drunk, and the Brigadier’s family recorded a video…so we have evidence pertaining to the case,” a police source said.
Sources also said that the PCR response was being investigated. The family earlier complained that an officer posted in the PCR unit, did not offer help after reaching the spot. Police said that the PCR unit was inquiring into the allegations and questioning him.
On Monday evening, a case was registered based on the Brigadier’s wife’s complaint under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 79 (word, gesture, act, or object intrusion—intended to insult a woman’s modesty), 191(2) (rioting), and 190 (unlawful assembly).
The case is from 11 April.
The Brigadier’s wife told ThePrint that she and her family had stepped out at 10.15 pm for a walk post-dinner, when they noticed the duo in the SUV, drinking and making noise.
In the Brigadier’s wife’s complaint—seen by ThePrint—she said that when she questioned the two about their misconduct, they tried to “misbehave” with her.
“Annoyed by their behaviour, I sought help from my husband and son,” she said. Meanwhile, she also called the police helpline.
Her son also asked the men to stop, but their “atrocious” behaviour continued. “They were not from our colony. Seeing their behaviour, we called the police,” the wife said.
The PCR vehicle arrived soon. However, “the behaviour of the policeman inside the vehicle was not helpful”, the woman’s complaint said. “Obscene comments”, meanwhile, were directed at her.
When she asked the policeman to lodge her complaint, he spoke “roughly”. And before the family could understand what was happening, “two vehicles arrived with 7-8 men,” who started to “thrash” the Brigadier and his son.
While all this was happening, the police officer stayed inside the PCR, unmoved, and watched, the complainant said. “I asked him to help my family, but he said, ‘I can’t handle it alone, and I am waiting for my team to arrive’,” she said. “But no help came.”
The three cars then fled the neighbourhood.
The family reached the police station, where, according to the complainant, the personnel could not provide them with a vehicle to go and get medical assistance. “We were told to take our own vehicle,” she said.
Police, however, clarified that medical assistance was given. “They preferred to go to the Army Hospital, rather than the designated Safdarjung Hospital.”
According to the family, the Brigadier received treatment at the military hospital before undergoing a medical check at the government hospital the next day.
“We kept approaching the police Sunday as well, but to no avail. As a last resort, we sought help from the armed forces community, who then raised the matter on social media. That’s how things moved,” the woman said.
After the Army Headquarters learned about the incident, it directed the Delhi sub-area unit, and subsequently the military police to assist the Brigadier.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)