Two persons were arrested on Monday after Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari’s house was ransacked by a group of eight to nine men who have been caught on CCTV attacking employees of the Member of Parliament from North-East Delhi lok Sabha seat.
Delhi Police is questioning the duo to find out the whereabouts of the other accused, who could be seen in the CCTV footage running amok with rods and sticks.
“We are trying to identify them and are questioning the two persons who are in our custody,” police said.
The accused persons have been identified as two brothers, Jai Kumar (33) and Jaswant Singh (38). The father of the accused serves as a cook in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Jaswant Singh runs an event management business and Jai Kumar works for a private firm, police said.
The incident occurred around 1.30 am when a vehicle in which Tiwari’s staffers were travelling, brushed past the duo’s car while taking a turn near the MP’s residence in lutyens Delhi, police officers said.
“Jai Kumar and Jaswant, got agitated and called up their friends who arrived in a tempo armed with iron rods and sticks, and entered the residence of Tiwari,” Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi Range, Mukesh Kumar Meena said.
Meena said that the incident does not appear to be a case of simple road rage. “An accident happened initially. It’s not a case of simple road rage. The attackers collected in an organised way with rods and sticks and then trespassed into the MP’s house. The FIR against the accused has sections of rioting, trespass and attempt to commit culpable homicide,” the Special Commissioner added.
Once inside the premises, they beat up three of his staff members with rods and sticks, the police officer said. One of the staff members informed the police, which soon rushed to the spot and held the two main suspects.
The Bhojpuri star-turned-politician alleged that the attack on his personal assistant, cook and driver and the ransacking of his residence smacked of “conspiracy”.
“My residence at 159 North Avenue has been ransacked by 8 to 9 people,” he tweeted. “It looks like a conspiracy and the police are involved in it. No one should be spared,” Tiwari said.
“What is happening in Delhi! 100 steps from a police station, goons enter a parliamentarian’s house and create a ruckus for 25-30 minutes, beat my staff. How can anyone have the audacity!” the 46-year-old said.
“The way a policeman escorted them to the house shows that there is definitely a conspiracy behind this,” he said, adding, “I called the DCP (Deputy Commission of Police) and they sent more policemen, who arrested the attackers.”
The BJP lawmaker described the incident as the “biggest threat”, adding that the guilty should not be spared. He also said that he would speak to the Home Ministry about the incident.
Tiwari’s aides claimed that the group, which had entered the bungalow through the gate meant for public entry, also abused them while demanding to see Tiwari, who was not at home then.
A couple of hours after Tiwari’s allegation, the Delhi Police said the matter appeared to be a “conspiracy”.
Following the attack, the BJP leader has demanded better security from the police.
“It appears to be a case of conspiracy. What was the purpose of them entering the MP’s residence and inquiring about his presenceIJ Had the MP there, the situation could have been worse. We are taking it very seriously,” said Meena.