HC refuses to entertain plea over Delhi chief secretary-AAP MLAs tussle

The High Court bench said the police was already looking into the incident and it would wait for the final outcome.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking immediate judicial intervention in the alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash by a few Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs during a meeting at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here this week.

Delhi IAS officers association members after meeting LG Anil Baijal at his residence after Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly manhandled by two MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, on Tuesday. (Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)

The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before a bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar. The bench said the police were already looking into the incident and it would wait for the final outcome.

“They (police) will take action in accordance with law. We will wait for the final outcome,” the bench said, adding that both sides have a different story according to media reports.

Advocate KS Wahi, in his plea, sought judicial intervention on the ground that people of the city would suffer if “elected (MLAs) and selected (bureaucrats)” fight among themselves.

“Both the representatives have to work in accordance with the rules made for Delhi with regard to its functioning and administration,” the counsel submitted.

The counsel urged the court for intervention, saying the alleged assault was premeditated and a “conspiracy” of all present with the motive to deter the bureaucrat from discharging his lawful duty.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday lodged an FIR on a complaint by the chief secretary under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, causing hurt, criminal conspiracy, insult and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty.

The chief secretary was allegedly manhandled by a few AAP legislators at Kejriwal’s residence on the night of February 19.

The chief minister’s office, however, dismissed the accusation as “bizarre and baseless”.

Prakash alleged in his complaint that Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 AAP legislators were present at the meeting at the chief minister’s residence, where they threatened to “implicate” him in false cases if the issue of releasing TV advertisements about the AAP government’s achievements was not resolved.

Prakash said he was called by Kejriwal regarding an issue related to advertisements, which were not being released, while the AAP dispensation claimed the meeting was called to discuss complaints about distribution of rations.