The security guards are accused of beating up several photographers who were following the couple during an outdoor tiger adventure in the Ranthambhore region.
- October 23, 2010
AceShowbiz - Katy Perry's impending wedding to Russell Brand has been overshadowed by allegations the comedian's security guards assaulted a group of paparazzi at a safari reserve in India on Friday. The loved-up stars are set to wed on Saturday, October 23 at the luxury Aman-I-Khas resort in Jaipur, Rajasthan and they treated guests to an outdoor tiger adventure in the Ranthambhore region on the eve of their big day.
Photographers eager to snap pictures of the wedding party followed behind a jeep carrying Brand and a group of friends, but they found themselves targeted by the funnyman's bodyguards after taking several shots. According to the Associated Press, a guard approached the paparazzi vehicle and reportedly punched the driver in the face and stole their car keys - as Brand allegedly looked on.
One photographer, Mustafa Quraishi, tried to retrieve the keys, but the guard is alleged to have turned on him and beaten him up, breaking his glasses and smashing his camera, causing a cut to his arm. Two other snappers are said to have been assaulted as they attempted to come to Quraishi's rescue, and one suffered a bleeding wound on his head.
The men then drove off, leaving the photographers stranded in the middle of the safari park. The snappers were later rescued by park rangers who had taken the keys from the security guards.
It's the second time Brand has been caught up in an assault scandal. He was charged with battery in September following an altercation with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport.
However, Brand is likely to escape further punishment over the incident and will reportedly receive a reprimand from a judge at a hearing in L.A. in November.
