Delhi Police ‘openly flouting’ SC orders, says Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday alleged that Delhi Police is “openly flouting” Supreme Court of India’s orders and wondered what instructions Commissioner BS Bassi has from his “bosses” after an attack on JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar and mediapersons at Patiala Court premises.

The Chief Minister also said he has sought time from the President to discuss the law and order situation in the national Capital. The Commissioner is acting “brazenly”, Kejriwal alleged while seeking to know what was the “source of his (Bassi’s) confidence”.

“Delhi Police openly flouting SC orders. Bassi acting so brazenly. What is source of his confidence? What instructions does he have from his bosses?,” Kejriwal tweeted. In another tweet, he said, “Delhi law and order situation fast deteriorating. Have sought time from Hon’ble President to discuss the situation.” Kanhaiya, who is named in a sedition case, and reporters were on Wednesday attacked by a group of lawyers when the students’ union leader was being produced at the Patiala House Court complex, where similar scenes had unfolded earlier this week. Supreme Court had earlier on Wednesday directed the Commissioner to ensure adequate security at the court complex where Kanhaiya was to be produced before a metropolitan magistrate. Later, following the attack on the JNU leader and mediapersons on the court premises, the Apex Court rushed a team of lawyers with police protection to assess the situation on the ground. 

“We are concerned about the law and order situation,” a Supreme Court bench said when senior lawyer Indira Jaisingh informed the court about the fresh violence, including the assault on Kanhaiya. 

Raising slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’ and waving the Tricolour, the lawyers — including Vikram Chauhan and some others, who had allegedly attacked journalists, teachers and students of JNU inside and outside the Patiala court two days back — on Wednesday marched to the court complex.