Rupnagar, October 31 — Retired Chandigarh Police deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Dilsher Singh Chandel, accused of shooting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Nitin Nanda at a wedding in Rupnagar, surrendered before police on Thursday, officials said.
Chandel, who retired from service in June 2024, had allegedly fired three shots at Nanda on Wednesday night, one of which struck him in the head. The injured leader was rushed to the civil hospital in Anandpur Sahib and later referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
Doctors performed surgery to remove the bullet. “He is stable and recovering well. Doctors expect to discharge him in the next two days,” said a close relative of Nanda. Hospital sources confirmed that his condition had improved significantly by Thursday evening.
Confirming the arrest, Rupnagar SSP Gulneet Khurana said the accused was detained while heading to the district court to surrender. “We have obtained police remand from the court and will interrogate him thoroughly. The .32-bore revolver used in the attack has been recovered,” Khurana noted during a press briefing.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a long-running property dispute between the two men, both residents of Agampur village in Anandpur Sahib. “Nanda had agreed to purchase a piece of land from Chandel, but the deal fell through after some earnest money was exchanged. They have filed several complaints against each other. A recent complaint from Nanda against Chandel is still pending,” the SSP added.
Four people — Chandel, Ran Bahadur, Dr. Ajay Rana, and Ram Singh — have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act, officials said. “The other accused remain absconding, and raids are underway to arrest them soon,” Khurana said.
Chandel, meanwhile, defended his actions, accusing Nanda of repeated harassment. “This man has been harassing me for seven years. He filed false complaints, abused me on Facebook, and insulted me publicly. This incident was bound to happen… but somehow he survived. My chest is filled with pride,” Chandel told reporters before surrendering.
When asked about Nanda’s allegations of a ₹1-crore fraud, Chandel maintained that the issue had already been settled. “The Rupnagar SSP closed the civil complaint four times,” he claimed.
