‘First Step Towards Justice’: Pellet Gun Victim Thanks Rahul Gandhi After FIR Registration

Pellet gun firing victim Sahil Lochav has credited Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi with helping him get an FIR registered over the incident, alleging that police had delayed acting on his complaint.

Lochav said Gandhi contacted him to check on his health and learned that an FIR had still not been filed. According to Lochav, Gandhi then offered to meet him and help get the complaint registered.

“When I spoke to him recently, he called to ask about my health. I mentioned that my FIR wasn’t being registered. He immediately said, ‘Let’s meet tomorrow; I will go and get your FIR filed,’” Lochav told reporters.

He thanked Gandhi for his support and described the registration of the FIR as the “first step towards justice”.

‘Waiting For FIR Since August 14’

Lochav claimed that it took around eight hours for the FIR to be registered after he and his representatives approached the authorities. He said he had been attempting to get a case registered since August 14 and suggested that the process may not have moved forward without Gandhi’s intervention.

“Perhaps it wouldn’t have been registered at all if the LOP hadn’t supported me,” Lochav said.

According to Lochav, he was allegedly hit by pellet gun fire on July 20. He was initially admitted to Delhi’s Lady Hardinge Hospital before being referred to AIIMS, where he underwent surgery.

He said his vision in the affected eye has still not returned to normal.

Lochav added that his lawyer submitted a seven-page complaint on August 14, but the FIR was not registered at that time.

Lawyer Alleges Jurisdiction Dispute

Lochav’s lawyer alleged that the family initially approached the Connaught Place police station, where they were told to contact the Parliament Street police station because the incident was connected to Jantar Mantar.

According to the lawyer, Parliament Street officials subsequently directed them back to Connaught Place, saying the case fell under its jurisdiction.

The lawyer alleged that when they returned, their complaint was not accepted and they were made to wait for an extended period. They later approached the Crime Branch but were reportedly told that complaints could not be filed directly there.

Lawyer Cites Medical Record

The lawyer also referred to Lochav’s medico-legal case report from Lady Hardinge Hospital, saying it documented “punctured wounds and blood oozing out”.

He argued that the medical record supported the allegation that an offence had taken place and said the MLC would form part of the case.

With the FIR now registered, Lochav said he hoped the investigation would establish what happened and lead to accountability for the alleged pellet gun firing.