Multiple theories have been formulated about the sequence of events leading to a 30-minute crossfire between two groups at a farmhouse in south Delhi’s Chattarpur area in which liquor and real estate baron Ponty Chadha and his younger brother Hardeep were killed.

Ponty and Hardeep were not on good terms and disagreed over the ownership of the DLF Central Drive farmhouse where the incident took place at around 12.30 pm on Saturday. It was found that they were joint owners of the property and had put it up for sale. The dispute was over Hardeep claiming the ownership and Ponty opposing it.

In the first version, sources said, situation went out of control during a meeting held by the brothers along with other family members to discuss the property dispute. “The meeting was scheduled at around noon and was attended by several family members. However, tempers flared after about 10 minutes into the meeting,” a source said.

Ponty and Hardeep left the room and went to the lawn. An associate of Hardeep opened fire at Ponty at his instance. “To retaliate, Ponty’s security guards opened fire at Hardeep and his associates,” the source added.

In the second version, sources said, the incident began after Ponty came to the farmhouse along with his security guards and associates to take control of the property.
It is alleged that they beat up the guards and staff present at the farmhouse and locked several rooms.

“Hardeep was in Noida at that time and was informed about Ponty’s forced entry by one of the staff,” the source said. Hardeep immediately rushed to the farmhouse with several accomplices and cross-firing began as soon as they entered the property.

Ponty suffered 12 gunshot wounds, while Hardeep was hit five times and several others were injured. Police are trying to identify security guards and accomplices of the two brothers to establish the exact sequence of events.

According to police, initial probe has revealed that 40 to 50 gunshots were between the two groups in the 30-minute incident.

A call was made to the police control room by a local after gunshots were heard in the area. Pistols, an AK-47 rifle, and several used cartridges were recovered by crime and forensic teams from the spot.

Unknown assailants

Another theory doing the rounds claims that four to five unknown assailants barged into the farmhouse and fired at the brothers and their security guards. They came in a Mahindra Scorpio SUV and escaped soon after.

Ponty and Hardeep were taken to taken to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj, where they were declared brought dead. Their bodies were later shifted to AIIMS for a post-mortem.
“The bodies would be handed over to family after post-mortem on Sunday,” said Chhaya Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (south).