New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has refused to take suo motu cognisance of the controversy linked to suspended Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashisht. The court asked lawyers to file a formal petition with the available evidence related to alleged threatening statements and objectionable remarks. The court assured that after receiving the petition, the matter would be considered and directions would be issued to list it for hearing.
On Tuesday, November 3, a group of lawyers mentioned the matter before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Vasudev Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma. The lawyers alleged that during a protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters on November 2, police officers used words such as “goons in black coats” for advocates. They also alleged that a threat was issued to shoot them with an AK-47.
The lawyers requested the court to intervene by taking suo motu cognisance of the matter. In response, the bench said the court works on the basis of records and that relevant material must be placed before it. Therefore, the allegations and other evidence, including available videos, should be submitted to the registry through a formal petition. The court also asked that a copy of the petition be given to Delhi Police standing counsel for criminal matters Sanjay Lao.
The controversy began after a clash between police personnel and lawyers at Shahdara police station on October 23. Lawyers had staged a protest after advocate Lalit Bansal was injured. On October 28, ACP Manasvi Vashisht and Inspector Arun Kumar were transferred. In protest against this, police personnel demonstrated outside the headquarters on November 2. After this, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended Manasvi Vashisht.
Meanwhile, a public interest litigation has also been filed by a lawyer over the alleged threat and the remarks of police personnel. Further judicial action in the matter will now be decided on the basis of the petition and the evidence submitted.
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