Bullets removed from Mahajan's body; out of danger

Mumbai, Apr 22: Former Union Minister and BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan, who was shot at by his brother Pravin Mahajan this morning, is reported to be out of danger after doctors operated upon him and removed the bullets.

Mr Mahajan, who sustained three bullet shots - on his right hand, abdomen and stomach - after his brother fired four rounds at him with a pistol, was rushed to Hinduja hospital where the doctors operated upon him, senior BJP leader Vinod Tawade told mediapersons here. Mr Mahajan is believed to be ''out of danger,'' he added.

The shooting, reported to be the fallout of an old family dispute over property, took place between 0800 hrs and 0856 hrs at Mr Mahajan's 15th floor apartment in 'Poorna' building at Worli in Central Mumbai.

Immediately after firing at his brother, Pravin surrendered before police and handed over the pistol.

Pravin has been arrested and booked under section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder), police said and added that he would be produced before court later today.

Earlier, after the attack, a seriously injured Mahajan was rushed to the Hinduja hospital by his brother-in-law and BJP Legislative Party leader Gopinath Munde. Mr Munde is married to Mahajan's younger sister.

Mr Mahajan has two younger brothers, including Pravin, who lives in Thane district.

Mr Mahajan, who was Telecommunications Minister in the NDA Government, had returned home from Assam last night where he was supervising the party's election campaign. Mr Mahajan, known for his organisational skills, and his brother had an over a decade-old dispute over some family property, which is being seen as the possible cause of the attack on the senior BJP leader, sources said.

Even as the incident sent a shock wave among political circles, many senior politicians condemned the attack.

According to party sources, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, senior party leader Lal Krishna Advani and party president Rajnath Singh are coming to Mumbai.

Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena, Subhash Desai and Minister of State for Public Works Chhagan Bhujbal visited Mr Mahajan in the hospital even as thousands of shocked party workers thronged the hospital premises to inquire the welfare of their leader.

UNI