Pellet-gun victim Sahil Lochab: vision unclear post-AIIMS surgery, FIR still pending
Synopsis
A pellet-gun victim’s complaint bounced between two Delhi police stations for weeks, his vision still impaired after AIIMS surgery — and it took the Leader of the Opposition staging a sit-in at a police station to get the complaint even stamped. The FIR is still not registered.
Key Takeaways
Sahil Lochab alleges he was hit by pellet-gun fire at Jantar Mantar on 20 July during a protest demanding education reforms.
He underwent surgery at AIIMS after initial treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital ; his vision remains unclear.
A seven-page complaint was submitted on 14 August , but no FIR has been registered as of 21 August .
His lawyer alleges the SHO told her by phone that orders from above prevented the case from being taken up.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi , along with Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Kumari Selja , held a dharna at Parliament Street Police Station over the alleged refusal.
The complaint was stamped after Gandhi’s arrival, but formal FIR registration — which would trigger a criminal investigation — is still pending.
Pellet-gun victim Sahil Lochab said on Friday, 21 August that despite undergoing surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), his vision remains unclear following an alleged pellet-gun firing during a protest at Jantar Mantar on 20 July. He further alleged that New Delhi Police have refused to register a First Information Report (FIR) despite a written complaint filed on 14 August.
What Lochab Said
“On 20 July, pellet guns were fired at me. I was admitted to Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, and from there I was referred to AIIMS. I underwent surgery at AIIMS, but the vision in my eye is still not clear. On 14 August, I wrote a seven-page complaint and gave it to my lawyer, but the FIR has not been registered,” Lochab told reporters.
The Indian National Congress (Congress) has alleged that Lochab sustained pellet-gun injuries during demonstrations demanding education reforms at Jantar Mantar. Medical records from Lady Hardinge, according to his lawyer, note “punctured wounds and blood oozing out.”
The FIR Deadlock
Lochab’s lawyer alleged that they were shuttled between Connaught Place Police Station and Parliament Street Police Station without either station accepting the complaint. “On 14 August, we went to the Connaught Place police station. They told us all Jantar Mantar cases had been transferred to Parliament Street Police Station. We came here, but they told us the place of the incident falls under the Connaught Place area and that we should go there. We went back to them,” the lawyer said.
The lawyer further alleged that the Station House Officer (SHO) told her by phone that the case would not be taken up and that “orders from above” had been received. An attempt to approach the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Crime Branch was also reportedly unsuccessful, with officials stating that complaints do not reach that office directly. The complaint was eventually stamped after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived at Parliament Street Police Station, but an FIR had still not been registered as of Friday.
Political Escalation
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Parliament Street Police Station, protesting the alleged refusal to register the FIR. Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Kumari Selja joined the dharna in solidarity.
The Congress has used the episode to sharpen its attack on the Delhi Police, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry. The incident adds to a pattern of opposition allegations regarding selective application of law-and-order procedures in the capital.
What Happens Next
Lochab’s legal team has indicated it will continue to pursue the FIR and has not ruled out approaching the courts if the police remain unresponsive. The stamping of the complaint, while a procedural step, stops short of the formal registration that would trigger a criminal investigation. Whether the Delhi Police will act under the political spotlight now trained on Parliament Street Police Station remains to be seen.
Point of View
Contradictory jurisdiction claims, a complaint returned after reading, and an SHO allegedly citing orders from above — raises questions that go beyond one case. Under Section 154 of the CrPC, a police officer is legally obligated to register an FIR for a cognisable offence; refusing to do so is itself an offence. The medical records reportedly documenting puncture wounds make this a cognisable matter on its face. That it took a senior opposition leader’s physical presence to get a complaint stamped — not even registered — underscores how access to the FIR mechanism remains deeply unequal for ordinary citizens. The political theatre is loud; the systemic question is quieter and more consequential.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sahil Lochab and what happened to him?
Sahil Lochab is a man who alleges he was struck by pellet-gun fire during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 20 July. He was treated at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital before being referred to AIIMS, where he underwent surgery; he says his vision remains unclear.
Why has no FIR been registered in Sahil Lochab’s case?
Lochab’s lawyer alleges that Connaught Place Police Station and Parliament Street Police Station each directed them to the other, and that the SHO told her by phone that orders from above prevented the case from being taken up. Delhi Police has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
What role did Rahul Gandhi play in this case?
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside the DCP’s office at Parliament Street Police Station to protest the alleged refusal to register the FIR. Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Kumari Selja also joined the dharna. The complaint was stamped after Gandhi’s arrival, though an FIR remains unregistered.
What is the legal significance of an FIR not being registered?
Under Indian law, registering an FIR for a cognisable offence is mandatory and triggers a formal criminal investigation. Without an FIR, investigators cannot begin collecting evidence, making arrests, or filing a charge sheet — effectively stalling any legal remedy for the complainant.
What were the Jantar Mantar protests about?
According to the Congress, the protests at Jantar Mantar during which Lochab was allegedly injured were related to demands for education reforms. The party has alleged that pellet guns were used against demonstrators at the protest.
