NEW DELHI: The turf war between the Delhi Government and the Centre on the farmer’s suicide escalated today with the magisterial probe ordered by the state going ahead with its work despite Delhi Police refusing cooperation.
Delhi Police did not rule out questioning the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in connection of the suicide.
The New Delhi District Magistrate, who has been told by Delhi Police that he has no jurisdiction to go into the suicide issue, today initiated a probe into it by issuing a public notice asking public to share any information or evidence about the incident.
DM Sanjay Kumar has also sought video footage of the incident from TV channels for his inquest under Section 174(1) of the Cr Pc in cases related to unnatural death.
A turf war began yesterday when Kumar had written to the area Deputy Commissioner of Police to provide all evidence regarding the incident as the AAP government had directed him to carry out a magisterial inquiry into the death.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Vijay Singh replied to him saying he has jurisdiction to probe the case and refused to submit evidence before him.
Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi justified the police stand saying “we function as per rule of law”.
He sought to downplay reports of a confrontation between the police, which functions under the central government, and the AAP government in Delhi.
“There is a confidentiality between government departments which will be maintained. We function as per rule of law. Whatever is necessary is being done in the case,” he said.
He said that the preliminary post-mortem report said that he died due to hanging.
Asked whether police will question Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Bassi did not give a direct reply and merely said, “Whatever is relevant will be taken into account.”. Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought to play down the government’s face-off with the Delhi Police saying he was even ready to file his statement to the police if needed.
“District Magistrate has the jurisdiction to investigate under the CrPC and the police does criminal investigation based on FIR…if police calls me I will go to file my statement,” he said.
The legal notice, which appeared in newspapers today and has also been put up at the DM’s office at Jamnagar House, read: “It has come to the knowledge that one person has allegedly committed suicide near a public meeting at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on April 22.
“Considering the fact that the person has committed suicide in full public view, in front of large gathering and in the presence of heavy deployment of police and such a sensitive place, District Magistrate, New Delhi will be conducting an enquiry under sub section 176(1) CrPC.
“Therefore, general public is requested to provide any piece of information/evidence in connection of the incident available with them in the office of the DM, Jamnagar House, Shahjahan Road before April 27 during office hours.”
The DM had set 11 AM as deadline for the police to submit details regarding the case.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said police has powers to investigate the issue under the CrPC Act as well as the Delhi Police Act.
“If anyone has any doubt we will take legal opinion,” he said.
He refused to comment on the standoff saying that the communication between the government and the police was “privileged” which cannot be disclosed to the media especially when it was a “political and administrative matter”.
Police have argued that under CrPc and Delhi Police Act, the Police Commissioner has the same powers as the DM and indicated that they are ready to reply in the court if a complaint is filed against them for refusing to share information regarding the case.–PTI
