Union Culture minister’s security staff thrash society guards

With the incident caught on CCTV cameras, Sharma, who on Friday claimed it was an attempt to malign his image, apologised and suspended his security personnel.

On Thursday evening, when Sharma’s convoy had reached Ashiana Greens housing society in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram, three security guards stopped them to inquire about their visit. While the guards maintained that they were following protocol, one of Sharma’s security personnel stepped out of the car and beat them up.

Sharma, who claimed the incident took place after he had gone inside, was visiting his sister for Raksha Bandhan.
The incident created outrage among the residents of the society and a police complaint was filed by Ashiana Greens’ Residents’ Welfare Association (AGRWA).

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The complaint, however, was withdrawn on Friday morning after the minister apologised.

“A complaint was filed by the RWA of Ashiana Greens on Thursday evening following which an NCR (non-cognisable report) had been registered yesterday. However, the complainant withdrew the complaint today morning and maintained that they do not want any police action,” said Ghaziabad SSP K S Emmanuel.

The letter of withdrawl read: “Since the minister has taken the matter into consideration and apologised to all residents, hence, we request you to end the matter since we have withdrawn the complaint.”

AGRWA secretary Pankaj Kumar, who had filed the complaint, said: “The minister called us personally today morning and apologised. His security personnel responsible for the incident has been suspended. Hence, we decided to withdraw the complaint.”

Meanwhile, Sharma, the Gautam Buddh Nagar MP, alleged that people were “trying to make a political” issue of it and “malign” his image even after he had apologised and suspended his staff.

He claimed that the “scuffle” between the guards had broken out in his “absence” after he had gone inside.
“…Without knowing who was at fault, I unconditionally apologised to the guard, the RWA president and suspended my security personnel. I also permitted police to take action against him. What else can be done… There are other people who trying to make a political issue out of it. People are trying to use this to malign my image,” he said.