The Hindu : Cop held for intimidation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cop held for intimidation

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 2. A Delhi Police constable deployed as a personal security officer to an Israeli diplomat allegedly threatened to kill a restaurant employee with his service revolver over a trivial altercation at Vasant Vihar in South-West Delhi on Monday. The accused, who was allegedly in an inebriated state, has been arrested and his weapon seized.

The incident took place in the evening when Constable Sandeep Bhardwaj, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, intercepted a scooter near the E-1 block gate of Vasant Vihar and started questioning the rider. The rider identified himself as Sanjay Kumar and said he worked with one Yo China restaurant. He further told Bhardwaj that he was going to deliver an order in the locality. Bhardwaj then let him go.

However, on his way back to the restaurant, Bhardwaj again intercepted Sanjay and took up an altercation with him. Sanjay then called some of his colleagues who also got into a heated argument with Bhardwaj, following which he whipped out his service revolver and allegedly trained its barrel on Sanjay's mouth threatening to kill him.

In the meantime, someone called up the police who rounded up Bhardwaj and seized his revolver. He was taken to a hospital where the doctors confirmed that he had consumed a large quantity of alcohol, following which he was booked under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and arrested. Bhardwaj had joined the Delhi police around three years ago and was currently posted with the security unit. The police said he was deployed at Israeli Embassy as a personal guard to a diplomat. A departmental inquiry has been initiated against him, they said.

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