ASI brandishes firearm in hotel in Madiwala, inquiry ordered

BENGALURU: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was caught on CCTV footage brandishing a firearm at a private hotel in Madiwala in Bengaluru. The ASI’s behaviour left the hotel staff and other customers terrified.

According to reports, a dispute between the ASI, Kumar, and hotel staff escalated after an unknown person called the police control room, and the call was transferred to ASI Kumar as he was on patrol in a Hoysala vehicle.

When Kumar arrived at the hotel, he entered with his pistol drawn, alarming the staff and customers. The incident occurred on May 23 and no complaint has been registered at the police station. The Madiwala Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vasudev, is investigating the incident.

In the CCTV footage, the ASI can be seen holding a pistol in his hand and shouting at the hotel staff. According to police protocol, one cannot walk around with a pistol and only during riots is firing in the air allowed.

The ASI claimed that the holster in the uniform had broken and so he was holding the pistol in his hand. However, his superiors questioned him about why he was holding the pistol and why he didn’t inform them about the incident. A departmental inquiry has been ordered at the ACP Madiwala level.