A drunken siege that took place over three years ago, in September 2009, sent a Queens man to jail for 30 years last week following his sentencing by Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Salvatore J. Modica.
Vipan Chandar, 52, was convicted on November 19, 2012, of first-degree burglary, third-degree arson, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, third- degree criminal possession of a weapon, driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest.
The apartment building where Vipan Chandar exacted revenge on a couple who took in his wife and children after a domestic violence incident between them. Forum Newsgroup Photo by Patricia Adams.
His violent frenzy began on September 15, 2009, when the Corona man poured gasoline through the window of the Forest Hills home of Parveen and Ram Shandal and then set off a blaze. Parveen Shandal testified that she saw Chandar reach through her window and set the blinds on fire with his cigarette lighter.
The couple was able to extinguish the blaze themselves and no one was injured in the fire. Chandar had targeted them because they had sheltered his wife and children at their home after a domestic violence incident.
Chandar abruptly fled the scene after torching the apartment along 64th Avenue, hitting a car and two pedestrians as he sped away.
Later, when fire authorities arrived at the scene to investigate, Chandar’s car was spotted as he drove by and a license plate number was obtained before he again drove away.
More than three hours later, the crazed, drunken man returned to the burned home and attacked Parveen Shandal with a heavy metal object striking her twice in the head causing severe lacerations. He again fled the scene and the victim was rushed to the hospital where she was treated and her multiple cuts stitched.
But using the plate number, police were able to track Chandar down at the intersection of 66th Road and the Grand Central Parkway later that evening and pull him over.
It was during that stop when Chandar struck the approaching police officer with his car and then slammed his own vehicle into the patrol car before fleeing that scene.
Shortly after, a second police car caught up with him, and again, he mowed into another officer with his car hurtling the cop onto the hood and into the windshield of the car.
The bizarre drama finally came to an end when another officer managed to place him under arrest, but not before Chander tried to wrestle free, injuring the officer’s shoulder.
All authorities at the scene supported reports that his breath wreaked of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot and watery.
Police recovered a half bottle of whiskey, an empty gasoline can and a black tire iron in Chandar’s vehicle.
In commenting on the sentence imposed, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said, “The defendant has proven himself to be a menace to society, and deserving of the lengthy prison sentence imposed. He has exhibited a complete disregard for human life by assaulting and injuring three police officers and setting fire to an occupied residence – all in the course of a few hours.”
By Patricia Adams
