NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old east Delhi man recently planned to use the tried-and-tested Bollywood formula of rescuing the lady love from the clutches of goons. But his plan to impress his "girlfriend" had gone horribly wrong as the history-sheeter he had roped in to act as the hoodlum changed his mind after he himself fell in love with the woman. When the youth confronted him on Monday, the goon's aide shot at him.

The youth, identified as Rajeev (25), is fighting for his life at a city hospital. The police arrested the accused, Daleep Singh, on Tuesday. Daleep to Vivek Vihar of east Delhi. He has several criminal cases against him.

The story unfolded a few months ago when Rajiv fell in love with the woman, who is in her mid-twenties. He approached her several times through her friends and even called on her mobile phone.

Rajiv, sources said, then started meeting her and expressed his feelings towards her but the woman rejected his proposal each time. Rajiv, meanwhile, stopped going to college and spent his time at his father's spectacle shop in V3S mall in east Delhi.

Seeing his plight, his friends advised him to find out a way to impress the woman so that she agrees to become his girlfriend. After much thought, Rajiv decided to approach Daleep. A notorious criminal, Daleep, frequented the area and had a clout among the youths. Rajiv was sure that Daleep would be able to help him out, the police sources said.

Both of them discussed the issue and Daleep promised him results within a month. The initial plan was that a bunch of goons would be sent to harass the woman and Rajiv would "rescue" her like a hero.

However, weeks passed but nothing materialized. Daleep kept taking Rs 5,000-8,000 each time he met Rajiv and assured him success. Rajiv spent nearly Rs 25,000 and finally realized that he was being taken for a ride all the while.

On Monday night, he met Daleep and his aide Joginder at V3S mall and asked them to return his money. Daleep allegedly told him to lay off as he was "interested" in her, the police said.

This angered Rajiv and he started abusing Deleep after which Joginder whipped out a pistol and shot at him, police said. As Rajiv ducked for cover, the bullet pierce through his waist and he fell down bleeding. The accused fled the spot but were nabbed later. The police have arrested Daleep on charges of attempt to murder and are looking for Joginder.

