Cong activist Tehseen Poonawalla claims his driver was 'lynched', Delhi Police deny allegation

On Sunday, in a series of tweets Congress activist Tehseen Poonawalla alleged that his driver has been 'lynched', later changing the allegation to mob violence. However, the Delhi Police refuted his allegations stating that they were 'ill founded and not based on facts'. Tehseen claimed that his driver had somehow ‘managed to run and save his life and he is bad hurt (sic)'. He added in the same tweets that his driver wasn’t Muslim and that apparently the fight started because they asked him for money.

He wrote on Twitter: “Guys terrible news. My driver was lynched by a mob ... today was his day off. My driver coming to meet me now. At the moment I don't know details. People are getting him to me in a rickshaw. He somehow managed to run and save his life. He is hurt bad.”

He added: “I do not have any details except a person who managed to call me after my driver escaped. Today was his day off. My driver is not a Muslim. I will refrain from judgements now. I know it is mob lynching. I do NOT know the reason or details. Have spoken to my doc next building. Priority.”

Describing the incident, he claimed that the fight was over alcohol. 

Describing the incident Tehseen said: “Ask him money for drinks. He refuses one of them holds him & tells him he must lend them. He moved the guy &starts to walk off when. Suddenly a mob of these youngsters start to hit my driver. They start to kick him, his shirt tears. The landlord’s daughter came to help. They hit her as well she runs away..in the meanwhile my other temp driver pulls him out ..the mob hits him too.. (sic)”

He added that the Delhi PCR Van had taken his driver with his secretary to AIIMS trauma centre. He went on to claim that the cops ‘advised’ his driver to forget the issue and his father objected.

Guys terrible news. My driver was lynched by a mob ... today was his day off. My driver coming to meet me now. @CPDelhi @dtptraffic 1n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

Ask the local police sho Hauz Khas or concerned office on duty to call me asap. My secretary farz is on 9594283135. He is with me .

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

At the moment i don't know details. Ppl are getting him to me in a rickshaw. He somehow managed to run & save his life. He is hurt bad 2n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

I do not have any details excpet a person who managed to call me after my driver escaped. Today was his day off. My driver is not a Muslim

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

I will refrain from judgements now. I know it is mob lynching. I do NOT know the reason or details. Hv spoken to my doc next bldg. Priority

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

So @DelhiPolice is on its way. Driver tells me : he was walking to his house when a few youngsters who he has no histroy of enemity with 1n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

Ask him money for drinks. He refuses one of them holds him & tells him he must lend them. He moved the guy &starts to walk off when 2n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

Suddenly a mob of these youngsters start to hit mu driver. They start to kick him, his shirt tears . The landlords daughter came to help 3n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

They hit her as well she runs away..in the meanwhile my other temp driver pulls him out ..the mob hits him too..4n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

As of now the delhi pcr van has taken my driver with my seceetary to aiims trauma centre. My secretary farz with my driver.

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

So the update. After AIIMS trauma centre... my pa took my driver to malvya nagar police stationto file a complaint . 1n cc @DelhiPolice

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

The cops were "advising " my driver to forget the issue. My pa objected. Then the cops wanted a 2nd medical! 2n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

Anyway in the meanwhile my driver gives out info on some from the mob who assaulted him . The cops call for them 3n

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

So hope now police complaint gets done

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

He went on to add later that perhaps his usage of the term was wrong, and he meant 'mob violence'.

So @abhijitmajumder dada, @ramprasad_c @MrsGandhi @porinju & @YusufDFI SORRY I got the terminilogy wrong, i meant victim of mob violence.

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) July 2, 2017

However, the Delhi Police contested Tehseen Poonawalla’s version of events saying that they had received a complaint about a quarrel near Hanuman Mandir, Begampur Jhuggi, Malviya Nagar. 

According to Additional DCP (South) Chinmoy Biswal, 24-year-old Sharda Prasad and 19-year-old Rohit – had quarrelled over verbal abuses. He added that they have been booked under section 107/150 of CrPC. 

Sharda, the official said was Poonwalla’s driver and he hadn’t suffered any injuries. He added that Rohit’ s mother and sister were interviewed and sent back. Delhi Police added that Tehseen Poonawalla’s allegations were ill-founded and not-based on facts.