A Delhi court on Friday, while directing the police to investigate the points raised by January 26 accused Deep Sidhu, said the Investigating Officer (IO) is duty-bound to conduct “fair and impartial investigation”.
“IO is duty-bound to conduct a proper investigation in the matter in a fair and impartial manner. He is not supposed to collect the evidences only to prove the guilt of the accused, rather he has to bring a true picture before the Court,” said Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gajendra Singh Nagar.
The observation came in while the court was hearing an application filed by the Punjabi singer-actor to preserve the CCTV footage of the Red Fort, which is already with the probe agency, claiming the video will show that he was helping the police to pacify the crowd while violence broke out.
While disposing of the petition, the court said, “Police officials are directed to investigate on the points as mentioned in the application made by the complainant to unearth the truth.”
However, the judge also said that appropriate action may be taken and appropriate sections may be added if Sidhu is trying to mislead the investigation by fabricating false evidence.
While the matter was being argued through video conferencing, Advocate Abhishek Gupta, appearing for Sidhu, told CMM Gajendra Singh Nagar, “The CCTV footage of the Red Fort is already with the Investigating Agency which shows that the Applicant did not participate in any act of violence and rather he was helping the police in pacifying the crowd.”
“All I’m saying is there should be a fair investigation. That’s my right, and you have powers to ensure it,” Gupta urged the court.
Sidhu’s lawyer also said that his client’s phones are already with the police and they can track his location. “In fact they shall also preserve the navigation data of my car which is already in their possession, it would be important piece to prove my innocence,” Gupta added.
Sidhu was arrested by the Delhi Police special cell on February 9 for his alleged involvement in January 26 violence in the capital after which was he was sent to seven-day police custody the same day. Currently, he is in judicial custody in the matter.
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