The Delhi High Court today asked for a status report on the recent vandalism outside the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.
A two member bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla have given Delhi Police two weeks time to file the status report on the incident in a sealed cover.
The Bench during the hearing observed,
“We also find that police force is inadequate. Therefore, whosoever was there from Police, it appears they tried to stop them but they were outnumbered. So you will have to explain what was your bandobast.”
The submission by the Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain’s that it will send a wrong message if the incident was monitored by the court, the court said
“If you feel so sensitive to notice being issued, we will say you appear on advance notice. We want to be satisfied that you are taking matter seriously.”
The petition in this case was filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj who asked for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the vandalism that recently took place outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s house.
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ASG Jain, who was appearing for the Central government, told the Court that a discussion has been held between the Delhi Police and Home Ministry to address the security threat. He also opposed the issuance of notice in the matter.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Bharadwaj told the Court,
“They have broken the gate and entered. Kindly reverse this scene for any other functionary. My lords, mayhem would break and there would be heads to roll and my learned friends says he will even oppose the notice.”
He further added,
“In a situation like this, we have only the constitutional courts to turn to. What is astonishing is that this person (BJP MP Tejasvi Surya) enjoys Z+ security.
Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, making submissions for Bhardwaj then said,
“Delhi Police is not doing any charity. They say they will sit down with Secretariat. If something were to happen outside PMO, will they sit down? There was 20 minute blockade in Punjab. What happened there?”
On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, submitted that as far as the security concern of the CM is concerned, the Delhi Police will setup a meeting with CM Secretariat to work out a security arrangement.
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He urged the Bench to grant an opportunity to the concerned respondents to file a status report in the matter for perusal by the Court before issuance of notice in light of the cognisance of the alleged incident already taken by the Delhi Police and requisite actions being taken thereon.
Further, the DCP North assured the Court that all evidences relating to the alleged incident including the CCTV footage of incident in question around and in the vicinity of the CM’s residence shall be preserved.
The matter will be taken up for hearing on April 25, 2022.