Delhi Court grants police one-day custody of ex-BSP leader's son Ashish Pandey

Ashish Pandey, the son of former BSP MP who brandished a gun at a couple and threatened them outside a hotel in the national capital on October 14, surrendered before the Patiala House Courts on Thursday. The Delhi Police arrested him and moved an application before the court seeking four-day custodial remand. However, the court granted the police only a day's custody.

"We need the custodial remand as the accused needs to be taken Lucknow as well. We have to recover the weapon also," the public prosecutor said. 

Pandey's counsel had opposed the remand application, saying, "We're ready for cooperation. We can deposit our pistol also. My client is suffering just due to media hype, and because his father was an MP. This matter is politically motivated."

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Pandey said that he had taken the gun with him for safety and didn’t want to brandish it. He added that he is being projected like he’s a wanted terrorist and the police across the nation were looking for him. He said that if the CCTV footages are checked, it will be clear who threatened whom. He said that he didn’t even address the girl and that it was her who made obscene hand gestures at him and pushed him. He also said that he has faith in the judiciary.

“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,” claimed Pandey in a video after surrendering.

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: #AshishPandeypic.twitter.com/Sg1JuMvJsH

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018

I took the gun with me for safety.I didn't brandish it. It was hanging behind me all the time. I didn't even address that girl, she pushed me&made obscene hand gestures. I've faith in judiciary&so I decided to surrender. There is no history of police case against me:#AshishPandey pic.twitter.com/W30ogWtGF8

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018

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

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Pandey comes from an influential political family in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from being the son of former BSP MP Rakesh Pandey and brother of Ritesh Pandey, BSP member of the UP legislative Assembly from Jalalpur, Ashish is a realtor.