Delhi Police ‘well-prepared’ to defend Tomar arrest

 Justifying the arrest of Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar, Delhi Police have claimed that clinching <g data-gr-id="46">evidences</g> came into light during <g data-gr-id="47">one month</g> investigation regarding his fake degrees. The police also claimed that the case against the minister is foolproof which led to four days police custody by the local court.  

According to the police, on May 11 a complaint was received by Punit Mittal, Secretary Bar Council of Delhi after which the complaint was forwarded to Hauz Khas police station on May 13. “In the complaint, Mittal had expressed doubt over Tomar’s Bachelor’s degree in science and another in law, that he had submitted in 2010. The complainant sought police help to verify the facts after which two teams were formed who individually carried out their investigation for two separate degrees. During the <g data-gr-id="53">investigation</g> it was learnt that the degrees are forged. Recently, the concerned colleges and universities have submitted their report. Considering these reports as preliminarily <g data-gr-id="52">evidences</g> we have registered an FIR late on Monday,” Deepak Mishra, Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) said.  

Police sources claimed that during the early hours of Tuesday, Tomar was summoned and at 12.30 am he was detained and later arrested. Lashing out against the Centre, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the minister was treated like a mafia, with 30-40 policemen swooping down at his constituency office in the morning. Reacting to the allegation, Rajan Bhagat, spokesperson of Delhi Police said: “All the rules and regulations including Supreme Court guidelines were followed in the arrest.”  

After the arrest, Tomar was first taken to Hauz Khas police station and few minutes later he was shifted to AATS office in Vasant Vihar. AAP supporters gathered outside Hauz Khas and Vasant Vihar police station. They raised slogans against Delhi Police and BJP government. The cops barricaded the areas near <g data-gr-id="39">police</g> station and as a precautionary measure they have arranged water cannons too.  

In the evening when Tomar was taken to Saket court, hundreds of protesters gathered outside. Since afternoon, <g data-gr-id="37">heavy</g> police force was deployed near the court premises.  

Delhi Police countered defence’s submission and told the court that they have followed all procedures while arresting Tomar. The court has granted four days of police custody. Seeking Tomar’s custody, police said he needs to be taken to the universities in Bhagalpur and Faizabad from where he claims to have procured his “fake” B.Sc and LLB degrees. Police also added that they need to find out persons who helped Tomar in procuring these “fake” degrees. It adds that there can be other accused in the case who may have abetted the crime.

Police said that Tomar was served a notice before his arrest but admits that the notice was served on Tuesday morning. Tomar’s counsel Rajiv Khosla told the court that all rules were flouted while arresting him. “Tomar was arrested because of political pressure,” he said. Khosla also submitted that no prior notice was served to Tomar before his arrest, as is required under the CrPC rules.