Ex- BSP lawmaker’s son Ashish Pandey, who brandished gun surrenders; sent for one-day police custody

Ashish Pandey — son of former BSP lawmaker, whose video of brandishing a gun at a five-star hotel in Delhi went viral, has surrendered before the Patiala House Court, which later sent him to a day’s police custody today. The incident of gun waving took place on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at RK Puram in Delhi.

The son of BSP lawmaker was missing since his video of waving a gun surfaced. In the video, he was seen abusing and threatening a woman. Pandey had urged his friends to stand by him in this difficult time. He also asked them to stop this video from going viral.

Delhi has learnt nothing after #jessikalal Politicians brats roam around with firearms. #AshishPandey it’s mainly due to government lack of will to set these cases as examples by displaying swift and stern action which act as deterrence to future gundas. pic.twitter.com/zwMB4ERp0J

— Progressive Indian (@SanjaySgpre) October 18, 2018

When his friends replied in negative and said they are helpless, the video went viral. After that, Pandey exited from all WhatsApp groups and switched off his phone.

I’m being projected like I’m a wanted terrorist & police across the nation is looking for me. Look Out Circular has been issued against me. If you check CCTV footage, you’ll find who went to ladies toilet that night & who threatened whom: #AshishPandey pic.twitter.com/Sg1JuMvJsH

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018

After surrendering himself at a court. In a video, he claimed, “I’m being projected like a wanted terrorist and the police across the nation is looking for me. Look Out Circular has been issued against me. If you check CCTV footage, you’ll find who went to the ladies toilet that night and who threatened whom.”

Surrendering himself he said that he surrendered at a court in Delhi because he has ‘faith in the judiciary’ and has no earlier criminal record against him. He further said, “I did not brandish a gun, I took the gun for my safety. It was hanging behind me all the time.”

Pandey alleged that the woman pushed me and made obscene hand gestures. “Earlier in a message sent to his friends’ group, Mr Pandey, made a desperate appeal of standing by him at this hour” and helping him “sort this mess.”

“Dear friends, there is a viral video of me going around…it as a mistake…I made a mistake and apologise for it. At this time need you to stand by me and help me stop this video from going viral. I am really sorry, I disappointed you and myself. Help me sort this mess up please,” read the message.

A court on Wednesday had issued a non-bailable warrant against Mr Pandey. The police have recorded the statements of Mr Pandey’s friends and relatives from Delhi and Lucknow. Yesterday, the police filed a case charging Ashish Pandey under the Arms Act, after examining the mobile footage that was widely shared online.

Also read: Delhi: Former BSP lawmaker’s son brandishes gun; caught on camera