Delhi Police arrested a man for allegedly setting his neighbor’s car on fire following a parking dispute in South East Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar on Saturday night, reported Indian Express.
The accused, identified as Rahul Bhasin, was apprehended after a 600 km chase to Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday morning. The police also recovered the vehicle used during the incident. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Ravi Kumar Singh confirmed the arrest and stated, “Further investigation is underway.”
Incident Details
The victim, Kunwar Ranjeet Singh Chauhan, founder of the cultural organization Jashn-e-Adab, was not home during the attack. CCTV footage revealed the accused vandalizing the car before setting its bumper on fire outside Chauhan’s residence in F Block. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
This is not the first time Bhasin has been involved in disputes with Chauhan. In August, Chauhan filed a complaint accusing him of abuse and assault. The police had arrested Bhasin in that case as well.
Victim’s Statement
Chauhan, speaking to The Indian Express, said the conflict began when residents complained about individuals drinking in a nearby park. Police promptly addressed the issue, but tensions escalated when one man, Sunny, began instigating others. Rahul Bhasin continued to abuse and pick fights, Chauhan added.
He also noted that Bhasin had tried to set his car ablaze a day before the incident, highlighting the ongoing animosity. “Each time I informed the police, they took action. On November 30, he tried to set my car on fire,” Chauhan said.
Police Response
The police have registered a case and ensured swift action to apprehend the accused. We acted promptly in both cases to ensure the safety of the complainant and the neighborhood, said DCP Singh.
Authorities are investigating further to determine whether additional individuals were involved in the incident.