In what could be more bad news for AAP, police sources revealed that the Crime Branch, the agency probing the suicide, might soon approach the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, to seek permission to question senior AAP leaders who were present during the rally.
The suicide of a 41-year-old farmer in front of a 2,000-strong gathering – which included Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the heart of the national capital, is snowballing into a major confrontation point between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the Delhi police. The AAP government, which had already ordered an inquiry into the suicide, came in for flak from the Delhi police, which may even go to the extent of questioning senior AAP leaders present on the spot at the time of incident.
Twenty-four hours after a district-level magisterial inquiry was ordered into the suicide, the Delhi police, which falls under the Union Home Ministry, in a letter questioned the state government act stating that it is beyond their jurisdiction to probe the incident. The deceased, Gajendra Singh of Nangal Jhamkhada village in Dausa district, Rajasthan hung himself from a tree during an AAP rally on Wednesday.
Vijay Singh, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), in a response to the District Magistrate (New Delhi district), wrote, "It is informed that the incident quoted by you in the subject matter of the case FIR No 95/2015 falls under section 306 (abetment of suicide), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and section 34 (acts by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC. Therefore, you have no jurisdiction regarding the matter".
The Delhi police had filed an FIR in the midst of allegations by the AAP leaders that it was due to police's negligence that Gajendra had lost his life. The DM had summoned Delhi police to join the investigation before May 11.
In what could be more bad news for AAP, police sources revealed that the Crime Branch, the agency probing the suicide, might soon approach the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, to seek permission to question senior AAP leaders who were present during the rally.
Among the AAP leaders was Delhi Chief Minister himself and when asked whether he would be questioned, senior police officials refused to delve into further details.
The Delhi police is one of its kind forces in the country to possess magisterial powers, and immediately after the suicide Kejriwal had reiterated that the department needs to be brought under the control of the Delhi government.
Senior AAP leaders accuse BJP, which was fending for Delhi police, of using the department as its proxy and given such circumstances the response to DM's letter may certainly escalate the already tremulous relation between AAP and the department.
The situation on the political front remains fragile as both the BJP and Congress held street demonstrations against the Kejriwal government on Thursday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh meanwhile in the Parliament came to the defence of Delhi police.
Meanwhile, Taj Hassan, Special Commissioner of Police, told dna that investigations were underway and it was too early to determine whom to question or whom to hold responsible. "We are probing all plausible angles which include provocation, involvement of AAP volunteers and negligence on part of organisers as well as the police force," said Hassan.
Even though police have filed an FIR against 'unidentified persons', witness accounts (which in this case are officers posted at Jantar Mantar when the incident took place) have made strong suggestions questioning the role of AAP volunteers in sabotaging the 'rescue efforts'.
The FIR reads that the crowd was "applauding and most of them were staring at the tree" used by Gajendra to hang himself. Police claim that they tried to reach the spot and sent a message through wireless set to control room. The FIR further mentioned that no one in the crowd helped and instead chanted "down with anti-AAP police".
Furthermore, police officers who were witness to the incident said when Gajendra was put in a police vehicle for rushing to hospital, instead of clearing the passage AAP workers raised objection saying that Gajendra is a party worker and would be taken to hospital in their vehicle.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}