In a shocking incident of public vandalism, the Vastrapur police in Ahmedabad apprehended five individuals on Saturday for forcibly entering the upscale Palladium Mall on SG Highway and causing deliberate damage to its festive decorations.
Security Confrontation Leads to Trespassing
The trouble began when the group of accused, identified as Rahul Verma (20), Anupsingh Rajput (33), Dhruvsinh Rajput (19), Prajjval Jha (22), and Bobisinh Rajput (26), allegedly got into a heated argument with the mall's security personnel. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the security guards initially stopped the men at the mall's west gate. However, the group managed to push past them and gain unlawful entry into the premises.
Deliberate Damage to Festive Setups
Once inside, the accused reportedly targeted decorative tree installations set up for the holiday season. Videos that later went viral on social media platforms clearly show the individuals pulling down Christmas trees. The FIR states that the group caused damage on the ground and third floors of the mall. The estimated cost of the destruction caused to the decorative setups is approximately Rs 5,000.
The complainant in the case is mall security guard Pushpendrasinh Baghel. Following the act of vandalism, the mall's security team, coordinating with police officials, chased and successfully apprehended the suspects within the mall complex. They were subsequently handed over to the Vastrapur police station for legal action.
Legal Charges and Police Confirmation
A formal complaint was lodged under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused face multiple charges including:
- BNS Section 333: House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint.
- BNS Section 189(2): Unlawful assembly.
- BNS Section 191(2): Rioting.
- BNS Section 190: Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object.
- BNS Section 324(2): Mischief.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-I) Harshadkumar Patel confirmed the arrest of all five accused. The police investigation into the motive behind the act is ongoing.
