This startling fact, of which even Sutar did not seem aware of, came to light only this morning when a sub-inspector, attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Intelligence, had a narrow escape after Sutar's bodyguard opened fire at him this morning.

Pune's Police Commissioner K K Kashyap said Sutar's bodyguard mistook the PSI for an intruder. The latter escaped unhurt as the bullet hit the fencing wall of Sutar's bungalow.

The Special Branch (SB) of Pune police is conducting an inquiry into the incident.

Sutar's bodyguard Shankar Shejval, an armed constable attached to the Pune police, and the Sub Inspector from CID (Intelligence) Sanjiv Ramchandra Patil have been detained for questioning. They were being quizzed at the Kothrudpolice station till late this evening. When his comments were sought, Sutar shot back saying, "This is not fair. I will react only after the police investigations are over".

This incident comes at a time when Sutar has been demanding that the Manohar Joshi Government table in the Assembly the Dudhat panel report which exonerates him of corruption charges. Sutar was stripped off the Agriculture Minister's portfolio after activist Anna Hazare levelled corruption charges against him.

Police Commissioner Kashyap said the incident took place at Sutar's bungalow in Shivtirtha Nagar area, off Paud Road, around 7.30 am, shortly after constable Shejval noticed Patil lurking in the vicinity of Sutar's bungalow. Shevjal challenged Patil who was in plainclothes. Kashyap said Patil identified himself as a policeman attached to the CID but apparently did not show his identity card. Suspecting that Patil was an intruder, Shejval warned him not to move and fired a bullet from his carbine, Kashyap said.

Later, on beingquestioned by police officials, Patil disclosed that he had been deployed by his superiors to keep a watch on Sutar's bungalow, Kashyap said. However, the police commissioner did not say when exactly was Sutar brought under watch. Patil, a head constable, was promoted after he was transferred to the CID (Int.) Shejval has been working as Sutar's bodyguard for the last two months. In the afternoon, Kashyap issued orders assigning Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Bhagvantrao More to conduct an inquiry into the incident.