Delhi Police has sought more time from the Delhi High Court to file a status report on the vandalism at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The court was told on behalf of Delhi Police that the report is being prepared. Security has been beefed up around the Chief Minister's residence.
During the hearing, the public prosecutor told the High Court that 22 to 23 security personnel have been deployed at the Chief Minister's residence. RWAs are being discussed to install gates on both sides of the road. No gathering or protest will be allowed near the Civil Lines metro station.
On 25 April, the High Court had raised questions on the security arrangements of Delhi Police, expressing concern over the incident of vandalism during the protest of BJP workers at Kejriwal's residence on 30 March. The court had said that it is disturbing that the house of a person holding a constitutional post was attacked. There three-three barricades were broken. What kind of arrangement is this?
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi had said that the Commissioner of Delhi Police himself should look into the matter and investigate whether the security arrangements outside the Chief Minister's house were tight. Why did the security arrangements fail? And who is responsible for this negligence?
On April 1, the High Court had summoned a status report from the Delhi Police on the violence at Kejriwal's residence. The court had ordered to preserve all the CCTV footage. The court recorded the statement of DCP North Delhi that all other evidence has been preserved. During the hearing, it was said on behalf of the Central Government that the Ministry of Home Affairs has spoken to the Delhi Police on this matter and the issue of security will be resolved.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioner Saurabh Bhardwaj, had said that despite the security of Delhi Police, this raises questions. Singhvi had demanded a notice to the Delhi Police in this matter. This demand of Singhvi was opposed by ASG Sanjay Jain, saying that Delhi Police has registered an FIR within 24 hours. Delhi Police is taking action. If notice is issued on PIL, then wrong tradition will be started.
During the hearing, the court had said that we have seen the video. It was a chaotic crowd. Cameras were broken. People climbed the gate and tried to cross it. The mob had taken the law into their own hands. The court had said that the police arrangement at the Chief Minister's residence was also not strong.
On this, Sanjay Jain said that the petitioner is a political person and this petition is politically motivated. The matter went to the press before coming to court. Delhi Police did not allow anyone to protest. It is being verified. He had said that if a court-monitored inquiry is ordered into this matter, then it will send a wrong message. Then the court said that if you are so sensitive about issuing the notice, then you have to be serious about its investigation.
During the hearing, senior advocate Rahul Mehra had said that Delhi Police is not doing any charity. Delhi Police is saying that they will talk with the Secretariat. If something happens outside the Prime Minister's Office, will they do so? There was only 20 minutes of jam in Punjab but what happened after that. Delhi Police is saying that the Chief Minister should come to the court in this matter. Who went to the Supreme Court on the security lapse of the Prime Minister. Then the court said that we are not saying anything on the petitioner.
Saurabh Bhardwaj, on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party, has demanded a SIT probe into the matter. The petition, filed through advocate Bharat Gupta, said that on March 30, the official residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was vandalized by BJP goons. This incident was carried out under the guise of demonstration. It has been alleged in the petition that the role of Delhi Police in this incident is also suspicious. It has been said in the petition that despite having Z plus security to the Chief Minister of Delhi, if such vandalism is done at his residence, then action should be taken against the responsible officers of Delhi Police. It has been said in the petition that everyone has a constitutional right to protest through demonstration. But no one has the right to indulge in violence in the demonstration. In the petition, there has been a demand to constitute an SIT under the chairmanship of a retired judge.