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Delhi HC: Dissatisfied with Police Regarding Security Lapse of CM Residence

Khushi Gupta

Published on: April 25, 2022 at 18:34 IST

The Delhi High Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the Status Report filed by Delhi Police regarding the arrangement made for securing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.

The Court said the bandobast made at the Chief Minister ‘s residence and the road leading to it was inadequate and it had failed to prevent some miscreants from reaching the gate of Kejriwal’s house and vandalising the area and destroying public property.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla was hearing a petition filed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj seeking an Special Investigation Team Probe into the attack at the Chief Minister ‘s residence.

“It is an important facet of our Democracy, irrespective of the ideology,” the Court said.

“Some responsibility has to be fixed so that remedial action is taken… Because this is an important facet of democracy. Irrespective of our ideologies, irrespective of whichever ideologies we belong to… Just like we say that the Prime Minister is the Prime Minister of the Country, nobody can say that he is not my Prime Minister. It is the Constitutional Office that we are concerned (about),” the Court added.

The Court said, “In our view, the aforesaid lapse is a serious one and should be looked at by the Commissioner of Police. He should examine first whether bandobast was adequate, the reasons for the failure of the arrangements made and fix the responsibility for the lapse which admittedly has occurred. As we are about to dictate further, additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain said the reviews of the security of the Chief Minister ‘s residence is being undertaken and steps are being taken.

“Let a further status report be filed in terms of this order while also disclosing the aspect of with regard to the review of the security arrangements at the Chief Minister ‘s residence and what steps have been taken so that such incidents are prevented.”