Diamond merchant molests woman at pub; fires at Manager

A diamond merchant opened fire and injured the manager of a city pub when he asked him to apologise over a woman patron's complaint of molestation, police said today.

The incident took place in suburban Andheri on the night of May 29 and was captured on CCTV.

The accused, Vikram Kallodi (50), a resident of Andheri, was arrested from the pub the same night. The Manager, Jitendra Jha, suffered leg injury and is currently recuperating, police said.

It all began when Kallodi, in an inebriated state, allegedly tried to peep into a woman patron's mobile phone, to which she objected.

"When the victim objected and asked Kallodi to mind his own business, he misbehaved with her," Assistant Police Inspector of Amboli Police Station Sohan Macchare told PTI.

Later, the woman approached Jha and told him about the incident. When Jha and the woman were discussing the matter in his cabin, Kallodi barged in the room and started arguing with the Manager, police said.

When Jha asked Kallodi to apologise to the woman over his misbehaviour, he refused, leading to a scuffle between the two. An enraged Kallodi then pulled out his licensed revolver and fired a round at the Manager, which brushed past his left leg, police said.

"Jha called up the police control room which in turn contacted us. Since we were already patrolling near the pub, we immediately went there and admitted him (Jha) to the hospital and arrested Kallodi," Macchare added.

The accused has been booked under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and also the Arms Act.