New Delhi, Nov 3 Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashistha was suspended after he and other personnel protested outside the police headquarters against his transfer and that of a station house officer, an official said on Tuesday. The department took action against the officers after a scuffle between lawyers and policemen at Shahdara police station days ago.
Reacting to his suspension, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vashistha said the action had not dented his courage or confidence and expressed faith in the departmental enquiry, saying he believed the system would ensure a fair probe and judgement.
“I want to thank you all for giving a call for the Sampark Sabha. It was a fruitful discussion, and our problems will be resolved. Apart from this, I want to inform you that my suspension is true, but it has not reduced my courage and confidence in any manner. I feel that our focus, commitment and resolve should grow stronger every day,” he said.
“Suspension is not a wrong action; it is a departmental action. I believe 100 per cent that the system will do a fair inquiry and make a fair judgement,” he said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the suspension order on November 2.
“Whereas, departmental proceedings against Manasvi Vashistha, DANIPS (2019), Entry Grade, are contemplated; now, therefore, the competent authority, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 10 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, hereby places Manasvi Vashistha, DANIPS (2019), under suspension with immediate effect,” the order stated.
The ministry said during the suspension, Vashistha’s headquarters would remain in Delhi and directed him not to leave without prior permission from the competent authority. The MHA categorised the order as “most immediate”.
Vashistha, a 2019-batch DANIPS officer, and Shahdara station house officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar were transferred on October 28. Police-lawyers confrontation began after an incident in which advocate Lalit Bansal suffered a serious head injury in an alleged assault, for which an FIR was registered at Shahdara police station, according to the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi.
Several advocates went to the police station on the evening of October 23 to seek legal action against those named in the case. The committee claimed that the ACP and the SHO assured them that the accused, who were present inside the police station at the time, would be arrested.
The next day, however, the advocates learned that the accused had not been arrested and had reportedly been released, the circular said, adding that this caused serious concern among members of the Bar.
When the advocates went to Shahdara police station again to express concern over how the matter was handled and seek accountability, a scuffle ensued between the lawyers and two police officers, the committee claimed.
The transfer of the ACP and the SHO triggered a protest by police personnel on Monday, during which around 150 officers, including women personnel, gathered outside the police headquarters. The protesting personnel demanded the reinstatement of Vashistha and Kumar.
A delegation of police personnel met Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and submitted five demands, which included action against lawyers involved in the Shahdara incident and registration of FIRs against lawyers who indulge in “hooliganism”.
On October 30, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar chaired a meeting with representatives of the Bar Council of Delhi and district court bar associations, following which it was decided to establish a joint coordination and grievance redressal mechanism.
The protest brought back memories of a similar demonstration in 2019, when over 2,000 police personnel and their family members had gathered outside the old headquarters following attacks on police officers by lawyers, including an incident linked to a parking dispute at Tis Hazari Court.
On Monday, police personnel holding placards and posters raised slogans of “vardi ka apmaan nahi sahenge” (we will not tolerate insult to the uniform) and demanded the reinstatement of Vashistha and Shahdara SHO.
Even tense moments unfolded outside gate number 1 of the police headquarters as senior officers, including New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma, reached the spot and tried to persuade the protesting personnel to call off their demonstration.
Sharma, who was seen speaking to Vashistha, asked some personnel to accompany him inside the headquarters, but they refused, demanding a “Sampark Sabha” with the police commissioner.
(PTI News)
