The man who was attacked with a hatchet in front of the Corona gym turns out to be Bollywood actor Aman Dhaliwal – World Time Todays

CORONA, California (KABC) — A man armed with a knife and a hatchet who stabbed another man in a Corona gym has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Ronald Chand, 30, of Santa Ana, made his first court appearance in downtown Riverside this morning. He is being held on $1 million bail.

The violent encounter happened Tuesday morning at a Planet Fitness gym at 3685 Grand Oaks in Corona. According to police, the attack began in the parking lot when the alleged victim observed the suspect behaving erratically in his vehicle and therefore began recording video of the suspect with his cell phone.

Police say the suspect, angered, blocked the victim with his car, then got out and attacked him. The victim then ran to the gym and the suspect followed him.

“I heard screams behind me,” said John Keane, who was working out at the gym when it happened. “I thought people were arguing so I ignored it at first and then it got louder so I turned off the machine and turned around and noticed a guy with a knife in one and a hatchet in the other and his Arm had around another guy who was bleeding.”

The alleged victim is identified as Aman Dhaliwal, 36, Corona, a Bollywood actor with more than a dozen films and TV shows to his credit.

In the video, Dhaliwal waits for the moment when Chand is distracted and then tries to knock the gun out of his hand and push him to the ground. Keane and three other witnesses then held Chand to the ground until police arrived.

Eyewitness News spoke to a family member of Dhaliwal who said the actor sustained numerous injuries during the attack but has been discharged from hospital and is recovering. He is staying at a nearby hotel and is currently asking for privacy.

Police said it did not appear the suspect and victim knew each other. Witnesses said the suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, but police were unable to confirm this claim.

“He acted like he was on drugs,” Keane said. “He yelled something about rape. I don’t know what that meant, and afterwards he cried out for water.

“It was just chatter and shouting,” Keane said.