Mahajan, shot at by brother, "quite critical"

The condition of BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan, who underwent a four-hour surgery after being shot at by his younger brother Pravin Mahajan this morning, is "quite critical", Dr Anupam Verma of the Hinduja hospital said.

Mahajan has suffered "massive blood loss" due to injuries in the liver, lower chest, abdomen, pancreas, duodenum, and an important vein caused by three bullets, Verma, the hospital dean, said.

"His condition presently can be dubbed quite critical. He is still oozing (blood). He is in the ICU on ventilatory support," Verma said. None of the bullets have still been removed, he added.

Reading out a medical bulletin, Verma said Mahajan was brought to the hospital at 8.20 am. He had three bullet injuries in the lower chest and abdomen.

"Bullets travelled through the right lower part of the chest through the diaphragm. They have gone through the liver, shattering its right side, damaged the head of the pancreas, duodenum and inferior venacava (IVC), which is the main vein in the abdomen carrying blood to the heart. It has also injured the small intestine. The injury to the IVC has been repaired and bleeding from there and from the head of the pancreas has stopped. The internal injuries has been repaired," Verma said.

He added that since the injury to the liver was extensive, pads were being used to stop the bleeding.

Mahajan had blood transfusion to make for the blood loss, he said, adding major bleeding has been stopped but blood is still oozing from the extensive liver injury.

BJP workers are conducting poojas at various offices for the speedy recovery of Mahajan.

Meanwhile, Pravin Mahajan has been arrested under the charge of attempt to murder under Section 307. His lawyer, however, claimed that Pravin was undergoing treatment for depression.