The Delhi High Court on Friday asked a senior police officer to inquire into the allegations levelled by two practising lawyers against a Station House Officer (SHO) and his colleague for assaulting them on the intervening night of May 1-2.
Justice Sunil Gaur in an order asked the DCP East district to file a status report after an inquiry into the allegations of the lawyers Nikhil Mehta and Milan Malhotra against the SHO of Geeta Colony for “abusing and assaulting” them.
The court passed the order while hearing the lawyers’ plea seeking protection from the police and also transfer of the case to CBI as the senior police officers were pressurising them to settle the dispute.
“Despite the incident being reported to the senior officer of Delhi Police who, instead of taking action against the culprits (SHO and his colleague), pressurised the petitioners for settling the matter without insisting on any action under the law,” their plea said.
Claiming that on the intervening night of May 1-2, they had come from a function and discussing in their car about the next day’s matter near Mehta’s house, the lawyers alleged the SHO and his colleague had not only misbehaved with them but also physically assaulted them without any provocation. “Without any provocation and plausible reason, they started using abusive and unparliamentary language. They were also in intoxication of liquor and thereafter, without any provocation, the SHO and his subordinate abused their official power and physically assaulted them,” they charged in the plea. “The action of the delinquent police officials are absolutely illegal, arbitrary and against the law,” the plea also said.