Delhi Assembly issues notices to three top Punjab Police officers

In a fresh turn of events following the arm flexing between the BJP-ruled Delhi Government and AAP-led Punjab Government, the Delhi Assembly, on Saturday, issued notices to three top Punjab Police officers, seeking their replies within 48 hours, after the latter registered an FIR against Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra over a purported video clip.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said at a Press conference that notices have been issued to Punjab’s director general of Police (DGP), special DGP (cyber crime) and the commissioner of Jalandhar police for “breach of Delhi Assembly’s privileges.”

“The role of the Police Commissioner of Jalandhar in the entire episode is highly questionable and appears prima facie to be a clear case of breach of privilege of the House. A direct case of privilege violation is therefore made out against him, and the House will consider it seriously,” Gupta said.

The clip of the Delhi Assembly’s video recording was used by Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra and several BJP MLAs, alleging that Leader of Opposition Atishi insulted Guru Tegh Bahadur in the Assembly after a debate on Tuesday on a Delhi programme held in November last year to mark the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru.

The FIR was registered by the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate against Mishra and others for uploading and circulating an “edited and doctored” video of Atishi.

According to an official statement by the Punjab Police, quoting a spokesperson of the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate, an FIR under relevant provisions of law has been registered on the complaint of one Iqbal Singh regarding “uploading and circulating an edited and doctored video of Atishi”.

“Several social media posts containing a short video clip allegedly showing Atishi making allegedly derogatory and blasphemous remarks against (Sikh) Gurus with highly inflammatory captions have been uploaded on social media platforms,” the spokesperson said. Investigations have been conducted scientifically, and the video clip containing Atishi's audio was downloaded from a social media platform of Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, the spokesperson added.

Gupta said that the use of the video recording, which is a property of the Delhi Assembly, and the registration of the FIR based on it by the Punjab Police is “unfortunate” and has hurt the dignity of the House. Gupta said further action against the Punjab Police officers will be decided after receiving their replies.

The Assembly has asked for all the related documents and the forensic report, based on which Punjab Police claimed that the video was doctored, Gupta said. He condemned the AAP regime in Punjab, alleging “misuse” of the state police by it.

BJP MLAs have demanded that Atishi’s Assembly membership be revoked for allegedly “insulting” the Sikh Guru. Atishi was asked to offer an apology, but she refused. The matter would have ended there itself, Gupta said and warned, “misuse of the House for political ambitions will not be tolerated.”

The notices issued by the Delhi Assembly Secretariat stated that the House is already seized of the issue, and the video clip has been referred for forensic examination and to the Committee of Privileges.

It also conveyed the concern of the Speaker over the involvement of the Punjab Police in a matter considered to fall within the privileged domain of the House, and seeks a detailed explanation along with relevant documents from the concerned authorities.

Misuse of the property of the House in this manner, and registration of an FIR against a minister based on such material, is not only unfortunate but also extremely serious and condemnable, it said.

The Speaker clarified that any recording of proceedings inside the House is the exclusive property of the Assembly and does not belong to any political party, individual, or external agency. He questioned on what basis and under what authority the FIR in this matter was registered by the Punjab Police.

Describing the official recording of the House as “tampered” or “doctored” amounts to a direct attack on the dignity of the Assembly, Gupta said and added it is not merely a false allegation but appears to be a well-planned conspiracy aimed at undermining the prestige of the House and maligning constitutional institutions.

Mishra, who holds the tourism and culture portfolio, said in a social media post that he won’t be deterred by the Punjab Police and its FIR.  Everyone saw the video recording, and Atishi did not dare to step inside the Assembly even though she was repeatedly called to present her clarification, Mishra claimed. Instead of probing crimes in the state, the Punjab Police is covering up the offence committed by Atishi, he alleged.