What Happened at Palassio Mall
On the night of September 19-20, 2025, a party at the Tonic Club inside Palassio Mall in Sushant Golf City, Lucknow, ran past the licensed closing hour. The patrons – Harsh Mishra (23), Prince Verma (28), Rohit Patel (30) and Dr. Swati Verma (35) – demanded the bar stay open, sparking a heated argument with the on‑site security team.
During the clash, Mishra seized a licensed pistol that belonged to Patel and fired a single round at bouncer Purushottam Pandey, striking him in the back. Another security guard, Anuj Chaudhary, was caught in the melee and also suffered injuries. Both men received initial treatment at Gosainganj CHC before being transferred to a civil hospital for further care.
Video clips that quickly went viral showed a crowd of 20‑25 people gathering at the mall entrance, several individuals wielding sticks, and a disturbing scene of a man repeatedly beating a woman with a stick while onlookers stood by. The same footage captured the moment the gun discharged, adding to the chaos.
Police later recovered the weapon – a licensed pistol, one loaded magazine, five live cartridges, an empty magazine and two blank cartridges – along with the Swift car (UP32NZ8684) used by the accused. The pistol was traced back to Rohit Patel, though Mishra was identified as the shooter.
Legal Fallout and Ongoing Investigation
DCP (West Zone) Nipun Agarwal confirmed that after the shot was fired, enraged bouncers surrounded the group and began a physical assault, prompting the police to register FIRs against both the shooters and the security staff for their retaliatory actions. The following individuals have been placed in judicial custody:
- Harsh Mishra, 23 – alleged gunman
- Prince Verma, 28 – participant
- Rohit Patel, 30 – pistol owner
- Dr. Swati Verma, 35 – medical professional
In addition, six security personnel from the bar were arrested for their involvement in the subsequent brawl. The FIR lodged at Sushant Golf City police station cites sections 109(1), 3(5), 131, 352, 351(3), 115(2) of the BNS and provisions of the Arms Act.
The investigation remains active, with authorities reviewing additional footage, interviewing witnesses and examining the extent of the injuries suffered by the bouncers. The case highlights growing concerns over unchecked nightlife festivities and the readiness of armed firepower in public spaces.
Palassio Mall shooting has sparked a citywide debate on stricter enforcement of club operating hours and tighter regulation of privately held firearms.
