AAP MLA Jarnail Singh absconding, says Delhi Police chief

Delhi Police chief BS Bassi says AAP MLA Jarnail Singh is absconding after his "anticipatory bail" was "rejected".

Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi said Aam Aadmi Party's Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh was absconding after his "anticipatory bail" was "rejected" in a case of alleged assault on an MCD engineer during the demolition of an illegal colony in West Delhi.

An FIR was registered against Singh last week after police received a complaint from South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) junior engineer Azhar Mustafa, who claimed that Singh tore up documents authorising the demolition.

"On the basis of the complaint, we have registered an FIR under IPC sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of duty) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) at Tilak Nagar police station against Singh," deputy commissioner of police (west) Pushpendra Kumar said.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said the "culture of impunity" was on the rise in the Capital since the AAP government assumed office. "If he has not committed any crime then he should respect the law and surrender before the police instead of running away from its grip," he said.

Several controversies have hit the AAP government since it stormed to power in February this year. It has been at loggerheads with the police over various issues including its turf war over probing farmer Gajendra Singh's alleged suicide.

Several FIRs have also been filed against its MLAs along with assembly speaker and legislator from Shahdara, Ram Niwas Goel.