New Delhi: As the exit poll results of Delhi Assembly elections indicate that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) may come out victorious, police in the Capital region is also gearing up to tackle a face-off with the party, something that had been a top highlight during the 49-day tenure of the party last year.
According to the report published in Times of India, Delhi police is planning to chalk out a way to avoid confrontation if AAP comes to power.
Delhi police and State government have never shared a cordial relation with each other as the former reports to the Centre. Special mention goes to the face-off with AAP last year when the then police commissioner refused to take orders or recommendations from the Chief Minister in 2013.
Former police commissioner Neeraj Kumar and the current one B S Bassi have always been at loggerheads with the Delhi government.
Some of the senior officers say that if AAP came to power then law and order will become a bone of contention if the state government will demand resignations and legal actions on cops for crimes reported in their areas.
Reportedly, last year the then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had issues with three police cops – ACP of Malviya Nagar in the Khirki raids and SHO of Paharganj in context of Danish gang rape and Sagarpur SHO in dowry death case. He had asked the police commissioner to take action on the trio but was politely refused.
On being unheard, he staged a massive Dharna for three days in rail Bhawan; demanding suspension of the three.
Earlier, he had even challenged Home Minister's authority saying, “I will tell the home minister where to protest in Delhi." He had even made several allegations of bribery against the Home Minister.
The party had even held cops responsible for illegal activities like prostitution etc.
It is speculated that if the party came into power, Delhi police will have to handle the numerous FIRs it has filed against AAP members, including Kejriwal, under various sections.
Having proactively strengthened itself on corruption issues by launching a WhatsApp helpline and bolstering its vigilance unit, the department is expected to have lesser confrontation this time as compared to earlier.
