The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its judgement on the petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan, challenging the Delhi Police’s decision to list him as ‘bad character’ after opening the ‘history sheet’ against him.
Earlier on June 1, the Single-Judge Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma had issued notice to Delhi Police on the matter.
The Bench told the Counsel that it was likely to curtail his personal liberty, but the matter required serious consideration.
Justice Sharma further refused to issue any order to police for either taking action against Khan, or bringing this matter before the media and people.
Khan had further requested the High Court to quash the history sheet on the grounds that it was issued in violation of the Punjab Police Rules.
These rules were applicable to Delhi Police as well, the petitioner had contended.
Appearing for Khan, Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui had contended that whether a person was accused or not, was decided by the court, even though the concerned police officer had to accord reasons, whenever a history sheet was opened and a person was listed as ‘bad character’, but the procedure for the same as provided under the Rules was followed.
The details of the development have to be kept secret, but it was leaked to the media, he alleged.
The petitioner argued that police leaked the matter to newspapers, which published it. He contended that this was in complete violation of his rights under Article 21.
However, Delhi Police Counsel stated that the details were not leaked by the Police.
The Counsel for Delhi Police said since Khan was a political person, he may have leaked the details himself.
The Delhi Police Counsel asserted that police did not leak anything, adding that 16 FIRs were registered against Khan. Khan’s Counsel replied that the AAP MLA has either been discharged, or was on bail in 14 of these FIRs.