A leader of the YSR Congress Party was Friday sent to jail for firing in the air during celebrations over the party's victory in the by-elections, police said.
Former legislator H.A. Rahman was arrested after he fired four rounds from his licensed revolver outside the party office in Jubilee Hills. Rahman's supporters had a heated argument with police officers and tried to resist his arrest. Police seized his revolver.
Police presented him before a magistrate, who sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. He was later shifted to the Chanchalguda Central Jail here. The former legislative council member, who is also convenor of the minority cell of the party, apologised for his action. He said a party worker gave him his revolver when he was celebrating with a large number of supporters and he fired in the air to prevent any tragedy.
Meanwhile, the party tried to underplay the incident, saying the gun went off in the jostling. "When the jubilant cadre tried to physically lift him, Rahman took out the weapon and lifted it high up so that it does not hurt them and in the jostling the gun went off," said party general secretary and political affairs committee member Bajireddy Goverdhan.
Terming it as an unfortunate and unforeseen incident, Goverdhan said the party would seek an explanation from Rahman. The YSR Congress Party bagged the Nellore Lok Sabha and 15 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, after results of the state by-polls were declared Friday.