Former Congress MLA arrested for assaulting cop

At the time of the incident on Friday evening, Asif Khan was canvassing for his daughter Ariba. A police team that was patrolling in the area had observed the gathering in front of the mosque and had come to investigate

Former Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Khan was arrested on Saturday for allegedly manhandling a police officer in Shaheen Bagh.

Former MLA Asif Mohammad Khan at a local road that he named ‘Aurangzeb Road’ in Delhi. (HT Archive)

According to the police, Asif Khan, the father of Congress candidate for Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) councillor Ariba Khan, was giving a speech in front of Tayyab Masjid in Shaheen Bagh to a gathering of 20-30 people using a loud-hailer when he was stopped by sub-inspector (SI) Akshay for not having permission to address a public gathering.

“When SI Akshay asked Asif whether he had permission from the election commission regarding this gathering and addressing the public, Asif became aggressive and started misbehaving with him. He used abusive language, criminal force and manhandled SI Akshay,” a senior police officer said.

At the time of the incident on Friday evening, Khan was canvassing for his daughter Ariba. The incident occurred when a police team that was patrolling in the area observed the gathering and came to investigate.

A video of the incident has gone viral on social media websites in which Asif Khan can be seen hurling abuses and pushing the SI. His supporters can also be seen roughing up the officer.

Following the incident and a complaint from the officer, a case was registered on Friday under sections 186 (voluntarily obstructing an on-duty public servant) and 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) against Asif Khan.

This is not the first time Asif Khan has been arrested for assaulting officials. He was arrested in November 2021 for allegedly assaulting South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) staff in Shaheen Bagh. He allegedly beat staff persons with sticks after they removed his hoardings and posters from the area.