Ludhiana: A late-night birthday celebration in the Daad locality turned deadly on Thursday when Rahul Sharma, 34, the son of the owner of the well-known Pandit Kulche-Chhole eatery, was shot and later succumbed to his injuries at hospital, police said.
Police say quarrel escalated into gunfire
Officials at Sadar police station said they were notified after an emergency call to the Lalton police chowky reporting a man had been shot. A team reached the scene to find friends had already taken the injured man to hospital. Despite medical attention, Rahul died while undergoing treatment.
DCP (City) Alam Vijay Singh said the shooting appeared to have followed an argument during the party of about eight to ten youths. Preliminary investigations indicate the incident likely stemmed from a sudden quarrel rather than any long-standing feud.
Weapon linked to licensed revolver
Police commissioner Swapan Sharma said the weapon recovered in the case is a .32 calibre revolver. The revolver is reportedly licensed to a family member of one of the persons named as accused, identified as Gagandeep Arora of Moga.
Officers said initial forensic checks showed two bullet injuries on the victim—one lodged in the chest and another that grazed the stomach—contradicting an early account by one of the accused that only a single shot had been fired.
Eight people named in murder FIR; all absconding
On the basis of a complaint lodged by Rahul’s brother-in-law Piyush Sharma, Sadar police registered a case of murder under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. The FIR names eight persons as accused. Police said all of them are currently absconding and multiple teams, including units from the CIA and the local police station, have been formed to apprehend them.
- Akhil Joshi (of Talwara Colony) — the youth whose birthday was being celebrated
- Gagandeep Arora (of Moga) — alleged owner of the licensed revolver
- Parmraj
- Amritpal
- Gaurav
- Gautam
- Sagar
- Karan and Saksham — named as accused in the FIR
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Rahul Sharma, 34 |
| Location | Daad locality, Ludhiana (under Lalton chowky / Sadar police station) |
| Weapon | .32 calibre revolver (licensed to a relative of an accused) |
| Case | Murder registered at Sadar police station; sections of BNS and Arms Act |
| Accused | Eight named; all on the run |
According to police, the victim had arrived at the party in his Scorpio. Friends transported him to Dayanand Medical College (DMC) Hospital after the shooting, but he succumbed to his injuries there.
"Rahul was our friend and the shooting was accidental,"
In a video later posted on social media, Akhil Joshi denied malicious intent and said the firearm had been taken out and placed on a table when it discharged. The statement, however, is being examined alongside medical and ballistics findings by investigators.
City police officials emphasised that current evidence points to what they have described as a likely crime of passion rather than a planned attack, but they declined to rule out any angle while the probe continues. Four dedicated teams have been constituted, said the DCP, and arrests are expected soon.
The case has heightened concerns about firearms being present at social gatherings in Ludhiana. Local residents and business owners said they hoped for a swift investigation and stern action, noting the victim’s family runs a popular food outlet frequented across the city.
Police asked anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the accused to come forward. Investigators are analysing CCTV, mobile call records and forensic reports as they build the case.
The investigation remains active and police said they will provide updates as arrests are made and more facts emerge.
