A New Year's Day celebration turned into a nightmare of alleged violence and property damage for a resident of Crossings Republik in Noida. The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of January 1, involved a confrontation between homeowner Hitesh Sharma and his tenant, Gaurav Kumar, along with Kumar's guests.
From Celebration to Confrontation
Hitesh Sharma and his wife returned to their home to find their tenant hosting a loud party on the rooftop. Sharma reported that the guests, who appeared to be intoxicated, were shouting and using abusive language. When the couple raised an objection to the disturbance, the situation rapidly escalated into a violent confrontation. Sharma immediately informed the police by dialing 112.
In his formal complaint, Sharma alleged that 8-10 individuals from the party attacked him, resulting in a fractured finger. The group also hurled abuses at his wife, vandalized his house, and broke the window of his car before finally leaving the premises. A video of the altercation, later circulated on social media, corroborates parts of the account. The footage shows a group of 8-10 people, including a woman, descending a staircase while Sharma and his wife stand to the side. An argument ensues, and one man from the larger group is seen pinning Sharma against a wall.
Police Involvement and Alleged Delays
The ordeal did not end there. Sharma claimed that the same group returned at 5 a.m. to threaten the couple again. He redialed the emergency number 112, and a police team arrived at the spot. Shockingly, Sharma alleged that the accused continued to issue threats even in the presence of the police officers.
Sharma identified three primary accused: Sarthak Sharma, Prithvi, and Sanket. They were taken to the police station. However, according to Sharma, the accused were released later that same day. He alleged that the police kept delaying the matter, offering assurances that an FIR would be registered and action taken. Frustrated by the inaction, Sharma went back to the police station on January 2 to file another complaint. It was only after this persistent follow-up that the police began to take concrete steps.
Legal Action Under the New BNS
A formal complaint was eventually filed on January 2. The case was registered under multiple sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which recently replaced the Indian Penal Code. The invoked sections include:
- BNS 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt.
- BNS 117(2) for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
- BNS 324(4) for mischief.
- BNS 351(3) for criminal intimidation.
- BNS 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.
This case highlights the challenges residents can face in tenant-landlord disputes and the critical importance of timely police response to ensure citizen safety and justice.
