Asiad medallist Rashid picked up by cops on return

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police accorded a shocking reception to India’s top amateur golfer, Rashid Khan, when he returned home on Monday after bagging a silver in the team event at the Guangzhou Asian Games. Rashid was made to sit inside a police post for more than two hours well after midnight due to a complaint filed against him by one of his neighbours for playing loud music.
The complaint was filed by one Rajesh Saini almost immediately after the jubilant 19-year-old golfer reached home - near the Sarai Kale Khan bus station in southeast Delhi - from the airport with his father and friends.
"After a six-and-a-half hour flight, I finally reached home about 11.45pm and was unloading my bags from the car when one of my neighbours (Saini) came to me and objected to the music being played in the car. He also talked rudely to my father and then called up the PCR," Rashid told TOI on Tuesday.
The PCR van picked up both Rashid and Saini and took them to the post near the bus station. Saini left after a while saying he could not wait any longer. But Khan was made to sit for over two hours and was finally allowed to leave at 2.30am.
Delhi Police said the two neighbours haven’t been on the best of terms. "The families are battling it out in court. That’s the reason Rajesh got irritated when he saw Rashid celebrate and called up the PCR. On reaching there we found that the complaint was for playing loud music," head constable Yashveer told TOI.
And, instead of sorting out the matter speedily, head constable Yashveer went out attending routine complaints.
"I got a call for theft and had to leave and was informed that both parties (Rashid and Saini) were waiting. I reached the post but had to leave again after getting a complaint regarding dumping of garbage. When I came back, Saini had left. So I allowed Rashid to leave as well and asked him to give an application in case he faced any trouble from Saini,"
The police have also put a spanner in the plans to celebrate Rashid’s silver-winning feat. "In the morning, we went to seek permission to celebrate Rashid’s feat. The local police asked us to seek permission from the ACP of the area and get it approved at the police station (Sunlight colony)," one of his friends said.
When TOI got in touch with Saini, he refused to comment on why he had complained against Rashid. "I have told the police whatever I had to say. I have nothing to add," he said.