Varanasi lawyer shot dead after argument over caste-based comment during New Year’s Eve party

The accused knew the victim and attended the New Year’s Eve party in the Lalpur Pandeypur area of Varanasi.

Lucknow | Updated: January 1, 2024 19:36 IST

A 36-year-old lawyer was allegedly shot dead by a security manager in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi following a heated argument fueled by a purported casteist remark during a New Year’s Eve party he had organised on Sunday.

According to the police, Raghvendra Singh was shot dead by Hadendu Shekhar Tripathi, 48, who got offended by Singh’s remarks and allegedly shot him dead with his licensed pistol during the party in the Lalpur Pandeypur area of the city.

“We have arrested security officer Hadendu Shekhar Tripathi in the case. The security officer claims he was intoxicated at the time and reacted impulsively to the victim’s remark,” said Vidush Saxena, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Varanasi.

Saxena added the accused was produced before the court which sent him to judicial custody on Monday.

Tripathi reportedly fired a single shot that proved fatal for Singh, a resident of the Nadesar area of Varanasi.

According to the police, Singh had organised the New Year’s Eve party on a lawn and invited his friends and his staff members. Tripathi, who was acquainted with the victim, also received an invitation and attended the gathering along with Gaurav Singh, the owner of the lawn where the party was organised.

“During the party, an argument erupted between the lawyer and the security officer over religion,” said a police officer.

The police officer said Tripathi claimed Singh made a derogatory caste-based comment following which their exchange escalated and Tripathi shot dead the lawyer in the presence of the public.

People present at the party rushed Singh to the hospital where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’, said the officer.