Delhi Police FIR on pellet gun complaint: Congress says probe basis established
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi's seven-hour sit-in outside a Delhi police station on 21 August forced the registration of an FIR that police had allegedly refused to file for weeks. The case centres on Sahil Lochab, who reportedly suffered pellet injuries during the July 20 Parliament march — and the FIR now compels investigators to formally establish who ordered what.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police registered an FIR against unknown persons on 21 August on the complaint of alleged pellet gun victim Sahil Lochab .
Rahul Gandhi staged a seven-hour sit-in at Parliament Street Police Station demanding registration of the FIR.
The alleged injuries — pellets in Lochab's eyes, chest, and hands — reportedly stem from the July 20 Parliament march .
Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the FIR 'establishes the basis' for a formal probe into alleged police excesses.
Congress MP Kumari Selja alleged the FIR was registered only due to political pressure, not on the government's own initiative.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the delay was avoidable, calling the episode a 'victory' for the opposition.
Delhi Police on 21 August registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons on the complaint of Sahil Lochab, a young man who allegedly sustained pellet injuries during the July 20 Parliament march. The development came after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi staged an over seven-hour sit-in outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, protesting the police's alleged refusal to register the case.
What the FIR Means
Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the registration of the FIR formally opens the door to a probe into the alleged police excesses. 'The registration of an FIR means that the investigation, the probe into the incident where a young man was injured by pellets striking his eyes and body, will now commence. It establishes who bears the responsibility, who is being accused, and who must answer for it. Until now, there was no FIR, so there was no basis for an investigation; today, that basis has been established,' he said after the agitation was called off.
Gandhi's Sit-In and the Congress Response
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi described the filing of the FIR as a 'massive victory' for students, crediting Gandhi's 'steadfast resolve.' He said Gandhi had declared he would continue the protest for fifty days if necessary until the FIR was registered. Congress MP Kumari Selja said Gandhi and party leaders sat through the day 'solely to stand with the victim's family,' and alleged that the FIR was registered only because the government came under pressure, not of its own accord.
The Victim's Condition and the Family's Ordeal
According to Congress leaders, Sahil Lochab still has pellets lodged in his chest and hands following the July 20 incident. Selja alleged that despite visible injuries, the government maintained no pellet gun had been fired. She said the family was 'made to run from pillar to post' before the FIR was finally accepted. The government has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Opposition Voices
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called the outcome a 'victory' for the party, saying 'the work that could have been done in half an hour was forcefully dragged till evening.' Pratapgarhi further said the episode demonstrated that 'students' concerns are the biggest issue for Rahul Gandhi,' while contrasting the Congress's stated position with what he characterised as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s priorities.
What Comes Next
With the FIR now registered, investigators will be required to identify the accused and examine the circumstances of the July 20 Parliament march, during which protesters allegedly clashed with police. The probe is expected to scrutinise whether standard crowd-control protocols were followed and who authorised the use of pellet guns, if any. The Congress has signalled it will continue to press the issue in Parliament and on the streets.
Point of View
The weeks-long refusal to file a complaint handed the Congress a ready-made accountability narrative ahead of the Parliament session. The BJP has not yet offered a substantive rebuttal on the FIR delay, which leaves the procedural question — why did it take this long? — unanswered and politically live. The probe's credibility will now hinge on whether Delhi Police, which reports to the Centre, can conduct an investigation into its own alleged excesses without independent oversight.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rahul Gandhi stage a sit-in at Parliament Street Police Station?
Rahul Gandhi staged a seven-hour sit-in on 21 August to protest Delhi Police's alleged refusal to register an FIR on the complaint of Sahil Lochab, who claims to have been injured by pellets during the July 20 Parliament march. The agitation ended after police filed the FIR against unknown persons.
What happened to Sahil Lochab during the July 20 Parliament march?
Sahil Lochab allegedly sustained pellet injuries to his eyes, chest, and hands during the July 20 Parliament march. According to Congress leaders, pellets remain lodged in his body. The government reportedly maintained that no pellet gun was fired during the incident.
What does the FIR registration mean for the investigation?
The FIR formally initiates a police investigation into the alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 march. Congress leader Salman Khurshid said it now establishes 'who bears the responsibility' and compels authorities to identify and question the accused.
What is the Congress's position on the episode?
The Congress has called the FIR a 'massive victory,' arguing that police refused to act for weeks until political pressure forced their hand. Party leaders including Salman Khurshid, Imran Pratapgarhi, Kumari Selja, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury all framed the outcome as evidence of institutional resistance to accountability.
Has the government responded to the pellet gun allegations?
Congress MP Kumari Selja alleged the government publicly denied any pellet gun was fired, even as Lochab's injuries were visible. As of 21 August, the government had not issued a detailed public response to the specific allegations raised by the Congress during the sit-in.
