A case of assault involving Deepraj Bagri, nephew of Minister Pratima Bagri, has come to light in Bhopal’s Number 6 Market. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 22, came to public attention after a video of the attack surfaced on Monday. Following the revelation, the police registered an FIR and initiated an investigation.
According to reports, the altercation began when Deepraj was unable to fulfill the demand of the accused, Arun Gurjar, to make his female friend speak with him over a phone call. This infuriated Arun, leading to a physical assault. Witnesses claim that the accused arrived at the scene in a Thar jeep and launched an attack on Deepraj. The police are actively searching for Arun, who fled after the incident.
Habibganj police stated that 28-year-old Deepraj Bagri hails from Nagaud, Satna district, but currently resides at 333 Neelam Chauraha, Sanjeev Nagar. He works as a doctor in CAPT. He recounted that during a recent trip to Pachmarhi with friends, he received a call from Arun Gurjar, who insisted on speaking to a female friend accompanying him. When the girl refused to engage in a conversation, Arun became enraged.
On February 22, around 5 PM, Deepraj was in Number 6 Market with two female friends when Arun called again, verbally abused him, and pressured him to meet. Upon meeting nearby, Arun physically assaulted Deepraj, misbehaved with his female friend, and pushed her. The situation escalated until bystanders intervened, prompting Arun to flee in his vehicle.
Following the attack, Arun allegedly threatened to kill Deepraj if he reported the incident to the police and continued pressuring the girl to communicate with him. It was later revealed that the accused and the girl had known each other in the past.
Deepraj reported that after the incident, he immediately went to the police station and underwent a medical examination. However, he was made to wait for nearly an hour and a half before an FIR was registered. Initially, the officers intended to file only a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR). It was only after some of Deepraj’s acquaintances intervened and made calls to higher authorities that the FIR was finally lodged.
Deepraj clarified that he had no prior connection with the accused. He explained that his recent trip to Pachmarhi was with his fiancée and her sister. Arun, who had previously been in touch with his fiancée’s sister, had been persistently calling her. When she ignored his calls, he turned to Deepraj and began pressuring him to facilitate communication. Upon refusal, Arun resorted to threats. During the attack, Arun was reportedly armed and accompanied by two or three associates. Deepraj emphasized that he had no past disputes with the accused.