On Thursday afternoon, as rumours spread that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Ashutosh and Shazia Ilmi have been arrested by the Delhi Police, supporters of the party thronged the party office in Model Town and Ilmi’s Greater Kailash residence from where they were detained for questioning.
They obstructed the Delhi Police team led by woman inspector Neelmani Mukta when they were taking Ilmi along with them for questioning. The AAP supporters also made the Delhi Police entourage wait for an hour at their Model Town office when they were told that they needed to take Ashutosh away for questioning.
“I am going with the police to assist in questioning. I will cooperate in the investigation. The party will take action against those who indulged in violence on Wednesday and I also appeal to the AAP supporters to abstain from violence,” said Ashutosh, after he was taken to Mandir Marg police station by the police team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ved Bhushan for questioning.
later, the AAP supporters staged protest after both the senior AAP leaders were taken to Mandir Marg and Parliament Street police station. They were demanding their release and also demanded action against the party workers of the BJP. The AAP leader and former Delhi law Minister Somnath Bharti also reached Parliament Street police station. “Ashutosh and Ilmi told the police, in their statements, that they had not instigated any party during their protest. They were protesting peacefully and suddenly some miscreants started abusing them from inside the BJP office. later, they started assailing them with stones and in retaliation, their party workers too pelted stones,” the police officer informed. They were later released from the police stations.