A security guard at Dudhsagar Dairy in Gujarat’s Mehsana, a unit of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation that sells its products under the Amul brand, was injured when a former vice-chairman’s son allegedly opened fire during a scuffle outside its main gate ahead of the annual general meeting on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Harshad Chaudhary, is the son of Dudhsagar Dairy’s former vice-chairman Moghji Chaudhary.

Harshad, his cousin and Moghji were also admitted to hospital following the scuffle, the officer said.

“The injured security guard, Jayanti Chaudhary, is out of danger and currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The accused, Harshad Chaudhary, is also undergoing treatment at another hospital,” said Mehsana district superintendent of police Achal Tyagi.

Harshad’s father and cousin were also admitted to the hospital, he added.

Tyagi said the fight broke out when the Chaudharies were entering the dairy premises in their car.

“They argued with security guards and others outside the main gate of the dairy. During a scuffle, Harshad fired one round at Jayanti Chaudhary, injuring him in the chest. He is now out of danger. We will lodge an FIR after recording his statement,” said Tyagi.

Moghji, who was ousted as vice-chairman of the dairy last year, is considered close to former dairy chairman Vipul Chaudhary.

While Moghji claimed that he and his son were attacked at the behest of the dairy’s current chairman Ashok Chaudhary, the latter alleged that Moghji’s car was stopped at the main gate because he was trying to bring in “unauthorised persons” for the AGM.

“As soon as our car reached the main gate, six-seven persons and security guards attacked it and pulled me out. They started hitting me with sticks. My son and nephew were also injured. To scare the mob, my son fired one round in the air from his licensed revolver,” Moghji told reporters.

“We were attacked at the behest of the dairy chairman because I was going to expose his mismanagement and irregularities during the general meeting,” he added.

Denying the allegations, Ashok Chaudhary said: “The security staff stopped Moghjibhai’s car because he was trying to bring in unauthorised persons. Out of anger, one of the persons in the car fired at our guard.”