Cops pulled up over flag insult

Delhi Police was today pulled up by a court in New Delhi for its failure to take a categorical stand on a complaint accusing Anna Hazare and his team members of insulting the tricolour during their anti-graft protest in August.

Delhi Police was on Saturday pulled up by a court in New Delhi for its failure to take a categorical stand on a complaint accusing Anna Hazare and his team members of insulting the tricolour during their anti-graft protest in August.

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"Why is it taking so much of time? Tell me an exact date on which you will file the report," Metropolitan Magistrate Tyagita Singh said, while directing the police to file its report on the complaint expeditiously.

The police, which had earlier said it had sought the legal opinion on the complaint from its prosecution branch, today said "opinion received from the prosecution branch in the matter was not clear whether the offence was made out or not."

"Therefore, the matter was again referred to the prosecution branch for specific opinion and further action will be taken upon receipt of the opinion," the police said.

"The investigating officer has not filed the status report till date and submitted that more time is required as report has been sent to the prosecution branch for legal opinion. Matter be expedited. File report as soon as possible," the court ordered.

The complaint had been filed by advocate Ravinder Kumar seeking registration of an FIR against Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and six others for allegedly showing disrespect to the Tricolour during their anti-graft demonstration.

He had also annexed his complaint with pictures showing Kiran Bedi, a key member of Team Anna, waving a torn Tricolour and other protesters demeaning the national flag by mishandling it and even painting it on their bodies.