An American journalist allegedly assaulted an elderly cab driver and two policemen in an inebriated state in Jangpura area of South Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday, police sources said. The journalist has, however, told Newsline the police officials beat him up after he walked into an altercation involving the cops and a civilian.

The police have booked the man for assault, attempted theft and drunken nuisance.

Police officials said the journalist, identified as Joel Elliot, was returning from a party at 3 am on Tuesday. While Elliot told Newsline he came across a fight on Temple Road, the police say he was spotted trying to break into an Ambassador taxi by a security guard in the area.

“The guard then informed the taxi driver, Bal Kishan (68), who went to the spot along with four other guards and asked him to leave. Police officials said the man then punched the driver in the face, after which Kishan called the PCR. Elliot also punched a constable and kicked an ASI when the police arrived, the police added.

Elliot, however, said: “A policeman was swinging his club at somebody and I walked right into it. The cop got into an argument with me. He was talking in Hindi, which I don’t understand. He hit me and I started running. A little ahead, there were lots of parked cars. I got into an unlocked cab. The driver was sleeping inside and he misunderstood my intentions,” Joel said.

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