A 53-year-old man has been detained by the Delhi Police as he was found loitering with a blade in the hotel where visiting United States Secretary of State John Kerry is staying.
The man identified as Uday Ratra, a resident of Haryana, was detained when he began quarrelling with the hotel staff and the police when he was asked to leave after he was spotted loitering around in the five-star hotel's lobby. The police also added that the man is "mentally unstable."
"He is mentally unstable. He was roaming around in the lobby of the hotel. The hotel security staff knew him as in the past too he had tried to enter the premises when foreign dignitaries were visiting," a senior police official said.
Ratra was booked under IPC Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt).
"The hotel staff informed Sarojini Nagar police station and the police rushed to the spot and apprehended him before he could create further trouble. He was not aware of Kerry's presence. It is a co-incidence that he came to the hotel on the day. When he was searched, a blade was found on him," added the official.
However, the police said that the man created nuisance when other foreign dignitaries have visited in the past.
"Even the US Embassy had informed us in advance on Aug.1 that he might create nuisance. The Canadian Embassy had also written about him once. We have detained him and he will be questioned," the officer added.
Meanwhile, John Kerry extended his departure from his three-day visit to India by adding two more days on Wednesday. US officials said the visit has been extended to enable Kerry to travel to China for G-20 Summit this weekend.
