AAP CRISIS

Delhi CS 'assault': AAP cries foul as police visits Kejriwal's residence

Arvind Kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal | PTI

Delhi Police on Friday visited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, to look for evidence in connection with an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash there, by two AAP legislators just days back.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harendra Kumar Singh told IANS that the "raid" was underway and police would be looking for CCTV footage besides questioning staff regarding the alleged assault.

The Aam Aadmi Party termed the action "police raj" and said there was no "intimation" prior to the search.

According to Delhi government spokesperson Arunodya Prakash, 60-70 policemen entered the chief minister's office, reports PTI.

"CM house taken over by police. Huge number of police force enters CM house without any intimation. Police Raj kills democracy in Delhi. Police spread all over inside CM house. If this what they can to do an elected CM, think what they can with poor people!!!" Prakash wrote on Twitter, according to PTI.

"There is minimum courtesy in democracy. Every citizen has rights under constitution. Is it an attempt to humiliate a CM who is working tirelessly for the poor and the last man of the society?" he tweeted.

Kejriwal told reporters outside his residence that he was "happy that the investigation is taking place" but said they probe agencies should also garner "courage to question (BJP chief) Amit Shah" in the Justice Loya death case.

"A lot of police has been sent to my house. Investigation is going on in my house. It is a good thing," Kejriwal later said in a tweet.

This was the first time the chief minister has responded to the allegations on the assault.

Kejriwal also said in another tweet that his council of ministers has sought an appointment with the Lt. Governor Anil Baijal later in the day.

The Delhi Police is under the jurisdiction of Baijal.

Earlier this week the Delhi chief secretary had alleged that he was beaten up by AAP MLAs Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal in the presence of the chief minister at the latter's residence on Monday night. He said the incident took place when he was summoned to attend an emergency meeting at Kejriwal's home.

On Thursday, the chief minister's adviser V.K. Jain told police that he saw Khan and Jarwal "physically assault" the chief secretary, according to Jain's statement recorded by the Delhi Police.

Khan and Jarwal were sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court.

Scores of Delhi government employees across the city started a silent protest on Thursday to mark their support for the Chief Secretary.

The IAS Association is heading the protest. Delhi government employees have decided to observe a five-minute silence outside their respective offices every day till steps were taken to "ensure safety and dignity" of government staff in the city.

Bureaucrats had also taken a decision that they would not meet or talk over phone to the chief minister, his ministers or MLAs till Kejriwal accepts and apologises for the alleged assault and takes action.