NCPCR: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and AAP's Raghav Chadha and Atishi for allegedly posting a picture of a minor on Twitter in 'furtherance of political agenda.' The NCPCR has written a letter to Delhi Police in this regard seeking action against the leaders.
NCPCR's letter to Delhi Police
In its letter, the commission also observed that the image allegedly uploaded by the leaders was in order to divert attention in the ongoing/pending investigation by CBI against Manish Sisodia". While Chadha and Raut are Rajya Sabha members, Atishi is an MLA of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi.
Sisodia, who had 18 portfolios in the Delhi government, including education, resigned from the Cabinet following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy for 2021-22.
Manish Sisodia is seen with minor children
The apex child rights body said it has received a complaint regarding social media posts of Raut and Chadha who have uploaded images on their Twitter handles wherein AAP leader and state education minister Manish Sisodia is seen with minor children in schools.
"To initiate inquiry and take necessary action against Shri Sanjay Raut and Shri Raghav Chaddha for posting 'picture of minor' on Twitter in furtherance of political agenda" was the subject of the letter to the Delhi Police commissioner with a copy also addressed to the Delhi chief secretary.
Commission asked Delhi Police to take action
The commission has asked the Delhi Police to take appropriate action under the Juvenile Justice Act. "It is alleged that the said image is uploaded by Sanjay Raut and Raghav Chadha in order to divert attention in the ongoing/pending investigation by CBI against Manish Sisodia in the Delhi liquor policy case in furtherance of their personal agenda," the NCPCR said.
"It is observed that the images uploaded by Sanjay Raut and Raghav Chadha may have been taken during a function/programme organised in the school but it seems that the same is used by them without consent of the parents/guardian of the minors," it said in the letter dated February 27.
Atishi's case
In Atishi's case, the NCPCR has asked that an FIR be registered against her for "misusing her position and power for her personal agenda by involving children, posting and using images of minors without their consent". "Therefore, in view of the sensitivity of the matter, the commission requests your good offices to investigate the matter urgently by lodging an FIR against Atishi Singh for misusing her position and power for her personal agenda by involving children, posting and using images of minors without their consent," the NCPCR said in its letter to the commissioner of police and chief secretary dated March 3.
The commission also observed that the posts allegedly uploaded by Raut, Chadha and Atishi, showing images of children, clearly indicate "misuse of the children for personal agenda".
(with inputs from PTI)
ALSO READ | Byju's 'threatening' parents, 'buying' phone numbers of kids, claims NCPCR
ALSO READ | NCPCR asks states to conduct inquiry into govt-funded madrassas admitting non-Muslim students