In a startling incident on Monday afternoon, a 41-year-old Indian man, Sahil Ram Thadani, was taken into custody in Bangkok’s busy Siam Square area after threatening pedestrians with what appeared to be a handgun, which was later identified as a cigarette lighter designed to resemble a pistol.

The incident happened around 4 pm near Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square Soi 6 in Pathum Wan district. Videos circulating on social media captured Thadani behaving erratically dancing in the street, shouting at passersby, and pointing the lighter at people, triggering fear among locals and tourists alike.

At one point in the footage, Thadani is seen sitting on the ground as security guards approach to detain him. Despite multiple requests to stand, he remained seated, compelling the guards to lift him up forcibly. During the arrest, the man was heard crying and calling for police assistance, eventually expressing remorse for his disruptive actions.

Man Arrested Under Many Charges

Authorities confirmed that the object was not a real firearm but a lighter shaped like a gun. Thadani faces charges of threatening behaviour and causing a public disturbance. Police officials suspect his conduct stemmed from hallucinations caused by cannabis consumption.

A police report further revealed that Thadani had previously been a director for three Indian companies, all of which have ceased operations. Investigations are ongoing regarding the length of his stay in Thailand and any past incidents of similar nature.

The video, which has rapidly gained traction online, was captioned on X (formerly Twitter): “An Indian national in Bangkok created panic on the streets after he was seen roaming around with a lighter gun intimidating commuters & shouting abuses. The chaos forced the authorities to intervene, and he was eventually detained by the local police. Thankfully, no one was injured during the incident.”

Following his arrest, Thadani was taken to Pathum Wan police station where authorities continue their investigation.