Uttar Pradesh: BJP youth wing leader booked for celebratory firing

AGRA: Days after a video clip and photographs purportedly showing ABVP's Agra unit chief Gaurav Rajawat engaging in celebratory firing during a wedding procession surfaced, the youth leader was booked by Firozabad police on Monday.
According to the sources, during a wedding procession in Tundla on the night of July 7, Rajawat was allegedly seen firing in the air with a double barrel gun and a pistol.A video of the act was later leaked online on July 11.
Local police, taking cognizance of the matter, initiated a probe and later booked Rajawat.
Gaurav was seen firing in the air from a double-barrel gun.
“The youth leader has been booked under IPC sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 17/30 Arms Act. The accused has not been arrested as we are still in the middle of the probe,” station officer Gyanendra Kumar, said.
“I don’t have any license for weapons. Therefore, there is no question of firing from any kind of arms. On the night of July 7, I did hold a pistol and a double barrel gun which is evident in photographs and the video. But, I never fired. It was a malicious propaganda concocted by some local journalists against me to extort money and paint me in the same colour as Uttarakhand MLA [Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion],” Rajawat claimed.
Contrary to Rajawat’s claims, sound of gun fire can be heard in the video as he raised the weapons in the air. The TOI cannot independently verify whether the bullet was indeed fired from the pistol which Rajawat was holding.
Rajawat further said, “I have also given a written complaint against local journalists who extorted money from me on the basis of false allegations. I have sufficient evidence to prove my innocence.”