No public prosecutor to be appointed in CS ‘assault’ case, says home dept

The Delhi Police had written to the government on August 21, requesting the appointment of three special public prosecutors in the case.

Delhi government’s home department has decided to abide by the decision of state home minister Satyendar Jain not to allow the appointment of a special public prosecutor in the case pertaining to the assault of chief secretary Anshu Prakash.

Newly Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash had alleged that he was physically assaulted when he had gone to Arvind Kejriwal’s residence for a meeting on the intervening night of February 19- 20. (HT FILE PHOTO)

Delhi Police had, in its charge sheet, named chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy, Manish Sisodia, and 11 other AAP MLAs in the assault case. Chief Secretary Prakash had alleged that he was physically assaulted when he had gone to Kejriwal’s residence for a meeting on the intervening night of February 19- 20.

The police had written to the government on August 21, requesting the appointment of three special public prosecutors in the case. The request was forwarded to Jain by additional chief secretary (home) Manoj Parida.

Requesting anonymity, a government official on Saturday said, on the basis of the minister’s views, no special public prosecutor would be appointed.

The issue had stirred up a controversy after Parida had written that as Kejriwal and Sisodia were among the “accused”, the regular public prosecutors may find it “difficult” to handle the matter.

In his reply to Parida’s letter, Jain had refused the request.