By IANS
New Delhi : There was high drama outside the official residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when a businessman shot himself in the shoulder to “attract attention”, police said.
The accused, 42-year-old businessman Kishori Lal Sehgal, stopped his car near a police control room (PCR) positioned opposite the prime minister’s 7 Race Course road residence and shot himself in the shoulder, sources told IANS. The incident occurred at around 2.45 p.m.
Police recovered a suicide note along with the revolver from the car.
Sehgal was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was treated for his injury and is reported to be out of danger.
The entire high-security area surrounding the prime minister’s house was cordoned off as a precautionary measure for an hour after the incident. Normal vehicular traffic resumed thereafter.
According to police, Sehgal’s suicide letter read: “I am upset with my wife’s illicit relations with one Jeetu. She has even filed a false complaint against me in the Delhi Police crime against women cell.”
“I am living in mental depression. I am being regularly harassed and threatened by my wife and Jeetu,” Seghal alleged. He also said that he was living separately from his wife for some time and wanted a divorce.
Delhi Police chief spokesman Dependra Pathak said: “Earlier we thought it was a property dispute. But our inquiries have now revealed that he was upset because his wife was having an affair.”
“He wanted to attract attention and what better place to choose than an area near the prime minister’s residence. We understand that Sehgal had committed a similar act earlier.”
The incident is expected to spur the security establishment to have a closer look at traffic arrangements in the vicinity of the prime minister’s residence.
Sehgal is likely to be arrested once he comes out of hospital, police sources said.