The Delhi Police has arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly firing in the air outside a grocery shop in Central Delhi's Chandni Mahal area.
The accused, Aarif, an auto rickshaw driver, was arrested from Bhajanpura in Northeast Delhi, while he was preparing to flee from the city, police said, adding a pistol with seven live round was also recovered from him.
According to Sanjay Bhatia, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central district, the incident took place on Monday night outside a grocery shop near a cinema hall in Central Delhi's Chandni Mahal area.
"The accused, also a resident of Central Delhi was under the influence of alcohol during the incident and had bought the illegal pistol to show off people, he told police during interrogation," said the DCP.
"Police were informed around 9.15 pm on Monday that two rounds were fired in the air outside a shop. Police team from Chandni Mahal police station went to the spot where they met Aslam who told police that some unknown person fired two rounds in the air near his shop and during search, our team found one fired round from the spot," said the DCP.
"Since none of the CCTV cameras installed in and around the nearby areas were operational, several police teams were deployed to collect intelligence and trace the accused," said the DCP.
"Another police team was sent to Usmanpur area to get in touch with the owner of a medical shop, where the suspect was seen earlier but later a team was sent to Bhajanpura in Northeast Delhi from where the accused was apprehended," said the DCP.
"Initially, the man refused about his involvement in the case but during sustained interrogation, he confessed to his crime and disclosed that he hide the pistol and some live round in Jafrabad area. The team was sent to Jafrabad from where pistol and seven live round has been recovered," the DCP said.
A case has been registered against him under section 336 (an act endangering life and personal safety) of Indian Penal Code and provisions of arms act, police said.