Hours after name cropped up in bar brawl incident, IPS officer relieved from duty as DCP Dwarka

Earlier in the day, the DCP’s name had cropped up in connection with an incident at a café-cum-bar in Kailash Colony, where a woman was injured after she was hit on the head with a glass.

As per the general diary document, a PCR call was received at 3.05 am and a man alleged that DCP Choudhary, after consuming alcohol, smashed a glass on his wife’s head and fought with someone. The woman, a designer who lives in Noida, was taken to Max Hospital where she received three stitches. The Delhi Police, however, clarified later in the day that the DCP’s name came up due to a miscommunication and the matter had been resolved as it was a family issue.

Sources told The Indian Express that the woman and her husband were attending a birthday party organised by a real estate businessman at the bar. The DCP and his family were at the same party. The police chief has been apprised of the incident and he has initiated an internal fact-finding inquiry, sources added.

Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa said, “A PCR call was received in the early hours of June 4 at Greater Kailash police station in which it was mentioned that an officer of Delhi Police, of the rank of DCP, assaulted a woman at a birthday party in a private club. Subsequently, a video clip of the victim was received wherein she stated that she along with her family were celebrating the birthday of a family member.”

She further stated, “The officer concerned was also present (at the club) with his family. During the function, a glass fell on the woman and she was injured. Her husband was infuriated… as one person in the party was playing with the glass at that time. Due to a miscommunication, the name of the DCP cropped up in the ensuing commotion. The matter has been resolved as it was a family issue.”

The order issued on Saturday evening by DCP (headquarters) Mahesh Batra, from the office of Commissioner of Police, stated: “Shankar Choudhary, IPS 2011 batch, is hereby relieved from his duty as DCP (Dwarka), Delhi, with immediate effect and directed to report to police headquarters for further orders. The issue with the approval of Commissioner of Police, Delhi.”

Asked whether Saturday’s order and the alleged incident were connected, DCP Choudhary said: “No connection as per me… and the order has (been) issued by phq (police headquarters)… so kindly ask them.”

The Police PRO did not respond to whether the two developments were related.

Days earlier, DCP Choudhary had come under criticism from an Additional Sessions Judge, who was hearing the case filed in connection with the death of a 19-year-old Zepto delivery staffer in Dwarka.

On May 30, Additional Sessions Judge Lokesh Kumar Sharma observed that police planted a witness along with pieces of evidence.

ASJ Sharma had also noted, “I am further constrained to observe here that incidents of this nature, atrocities at the hands of police and torture of innocent people in utter violation of the principle of natural justice as well as provisions of IPC and CrPC, have gone steep high since the appointment of the current DCP of Dwarka district.”

“… this atrocious and illegal attitude and conduct on the part of police officials shows that either the DCP concerned is not competent enough or lacks the capacity of administrative supervision and control over the district and to lead the police officials for implementation of the criminal law in its correct perspective, or he is actively involved in encouraging the police officials to indulge in such kind of illegal activities to the utter prejudice of the fundamental rights of the people of this nation,” he said.