NEW DELHI: On a night there was heavy police presence in central Delhi, people in Connaught Place were forced to relive memories of the Shankar Market shootout that took place just a few days ago. A drunk businessman opened fire outside Regal Cinema, allegedly to terrorize locals bursting crackers, police said.

Thanks to vigilant patrolling, Karan Sethi (29), a resident of Chandan Nagar in east Delhi, was overpowered and arrested from the spot, additional commissioner of police S B S Tyagi confirmed.

The incident took place around 11pm. Diwali celebrations were still on in CP and some youths were bursting crackers. There were several onlookers witnessing the fireworks when a man driving a sedan pulled over. He taunted those present, saying he would show them what "real crackers" were all about.

Then, before anyone could respond, he whipped out a pistol and opened fire. Unfortunately or otherwise, a team led by SHO (Connaught Place) Mukesh Walia was patrolling the area and spotted the man. Though he tried to flee, he was caught after a high-voltage chase through Baba Kharak Singh Marg.

He was taken to RML Hospital for a medical examination where he tested positive for blood alcohol content. He was then escorted to police station and interrogated at length. While police said he fired his gun only once, witnesses said he fired about three rounds. Only one empty shell was found on the spot.

Karan told police he dealt in property and that the pistol used in the firing was a licensed one. He claimed he was returning from a Diwali party . He said he wanted to show the people "what a real cracker was". He has been placed under arrest. Police have seized his pistol and written to the licensing unit to revoke his papers. An FIR under Section 30 of Arms Act and Section 336 (endangering others' lives) of IPC has been registered. Karan was later produced before the magistrate and sent to judicial custody.

Last week, three men, including a history-sheeter from UP, opened fire in Shankar Market and targeted cops who had stopped them for checking. Police, too, retaliated and nabbed one of them after a hot chase. The police brass had asked personnel to increase frequency and strength of patrol cops since that incident.

