Delhi govt orders magisterial probe into killing of Manoj Vashisht

Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged encounter killing of Manoj Vashisht, a wanted criminal, at a restaurant in Central Delhi's New Rajender Nagar area.

Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged encounter killing of Manoj Vashisht, a wanted criminal, at a restaurant in Central Delhi's New Rajender Nagar area.

"A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the government," A Delhi government spokesperson said.

Officials said that the decision was taken after Manoj Vashisht's family members met chief minster Arvind Kejriwal at his residence on Sunday evening and demanded a fair inquiry into the alleged encounter.

Vashisht, who was wanted in several cases of fraud and other crimes, was hit by a bullet in the gunbattle with a team of Special Cell of Delhi Police on Saturday evening.

"Vashishtha was a wanted criminal and carried a reward on his head. We had received a tip-off that he would be coming to Sagar Ratna restaurant in New Rajender Nagar, following which a trap was laid. When he reached at the spot, Manoj, sensing police presence, opened fire on our men. When the team fired back in self-defence, one bullet hit him and he was injured," Special Commissioner (Special Cell) S N Srivastava had said on Saturday.

Vashisht was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police officer said.

Vashisht's wife Priyanka and brother Anil had earlier accused the police of staging a "fake encounter". They claimed that Vashisht was not a hardened criminal.