Baijal submits report to MHA

Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday submitted a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs.

"The Ministry has received the L-G's report. The criminal aspect of the matter will be taken care of by Delhi Police while the Ministry will look into the administrative issues involved, if the Chief Secretary was assaulted," an official of MHA said. The Ministry had sought a report on the issue on Tuesday.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted by AAP MLAs at a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here, sparking protests on Tuesday and threats of a pen-down strike in Government offices in the capital.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party denied the allegation even as the IAS Association Secretary Manisha Saxena complained to Baijal, claiming the attack on Monday night was a "planned criminal conspiracy" against the top bureaucrat.

A day the Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with the assault on Delhi Chief Secretary by AAP MLAs at the Delhi CM's residence on Monday night, the Medico Legal Case (MLC) report of Prakash states that he had a "bruise" on his lower lip and there was "swelling" behind the ears. The report further mentioned the nature of injuries sustained by the Chief Secretary in the alleged assault on him by a few AAP MLAs Monday night during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence.

Prakash was medically examined at the Aruna Asaf Ali hospital on Tuesday. The report mentioned "swelling" behind both ears and cheek bone as well as "bruise" on the lower lip. "The medico-legal case (MLC) is a due process of investigation and we will work as per law," said a senior police officer.

A case was registered on Tuesday at the Civil Lines police station on Prakash's complaint alleging that he was assaulted by the AAP MLA Amantullah Khan and others during the meeting at Kejriwal's residence. Khan and another MLA Prakash Jarwal have been arrested in the case while Kejriwal's adviser VK Jain was questioned for around three hours by police.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed police's plea for custodial interrogation of Khan and Jarwal. Metropolitan Magistrate Shefali Barnala Tandon rejected the plea of the Delhi Police saying that the two legislators were ready to cooperate and join the investigation.

In its order, the court recorded the submission of the defence counsel that MLC was conducted on Chief Secretary after the lodging of the FIR and nothing was to be recovered from the MLAs. It also noted that the MLAs were ready to cooperate and join investigation whenever required. It was submitted that MLC was conducted after registration of FIR and nothing has to be recovered from the accused.