Caught on camera: Minister's staff slaps guards for delay' in opening gate

Ghaziabad: A member of Union Minister Mahesh Sharma's security team allegedly assaulted guards of a housing society here for "delay" in opening the gate with the incident caught on CCTV cameras.

The guards were assaulted last evening after he intercepted the minister's cavalcade and asked which flat they wanted to visit, some of residents of Aashiyana society said.

When the guard stopped them, the occupants of the car got into an argument with him and used abusive language. They also slapped the guards.

Sharma was visiting his sister at the society for Raksha Bandhan celebrations when the incident took place. It was caught on CCTV cameras installed at the gate.

Indirapuram Police Station SHO Gorkah Nath Yadav said no complaint has been received from the residents or office bearers of the society in this connection.

Meanwhile, Sharma alleged that people were "trying to make a political" issue of it and "malign" his image even after he had apologised and suspended his staff.

He claimed that the "scuffle" between the guards had broken out in his "absence" after he had gone inside.

"...without knowing who was at fault, I unconditionally apologised to the guard, the RWA president and suspended my security personnel. I also permitted police to take action against him. What else can be done...There are other people who trying to make political issue out of it. People are trying to use this to malign my image," he said.

Sharma is an MP from Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency in Uttar Pradesh which is slated for election early next year.