P Chidambaram criticised the Delhi Police for a 30-day delay in filing an FIR in a pellet gun injury case. He noted the FIR was filed only after a seven-hour protest by Rahul Gandhi, violating a Supreme Court directive on prompt registration.
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram on Saturday criticised the delay in registration of an FIR in the pellet gun injury case, saying it took 30 days and a seven-hour protest by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for the Delhi Police to register the complaint. He pointed out that this was in violation of the Supreme Court’s directive on mandatory registration of FIRs.
Chidambaram praises ‘power of satyagraha’
Chidambaram, in a post on X, congratulated pellet gun injury victim Sahil Lochav for his perseverance and Rahul Gandhi for “proving the power of satyagraha”.
It took 30 days and a seven-hour dharna by the Leader of the Opposition (LS) to register an FIR in Delhi on a complaint by the victim This is when the law declared by the Supreme Court is that on every complaint a FIR must be registered promptly Congratulations to the victim… — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) August 22, 2026
“It took 30 days and a seven-hour dharna by the Leader of the Opposition (LS) to register an FIR in Delhi on a complaint by the victim. This is when the law declared by the Supreme Court is that on every complaint, an FIR must be registered promptly. Congratulations to the victim Mr Sahil Lochab, for his perseverance, and to the LoP, Mr Rahul Gandhi for proving the power of satyagraha,” Chidambaram said.
FIR registered after Rahul Gandhi’s protest
The FIR was registered by Delhi Police on Friday in connection with the pellet gun injury case under Sections 118 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following Rahul Gandhi’s sit-in protest at Parliament Street police station demanding action on Lochav’s complaint.
The victim had alleged that his complaint was not being registered despite suffering injuries after pellet gun firing at Connaught Place on July 20. He claimed that he underwent surgery at AIIMS, but his vision remained affected.
‘A crime has indeed happened’
Rahul Gandhi, who was accompanied by several Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had questioned the delay in filing the FIR and said the AIIMS report showed more than 200 shells inside Lochav’s body and three shells in his eye.
“A pellet gun was used at Connaught Place on 20th July. AIIMS report clearly says that there are more than 200 shells inside his body and 3 in his eye. He has lost vision in that eye. There are shells near his heart that cannot be touched. Delhi Police say they did not fire pellet guns. So, there is just one question: someone must have done it…A crime has indeed happened,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Meanwhile, Lochav thanked Rahul Gandhi for supporting his demand and said the FIR may not have been registered without the Congress leader’s intervention.
The case has been registered under Section 118 of the BNS, which deals with voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and Section 125, which relates to acts endangering the life or personal safety of others. (ANI)
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