AAP MLA booked on 5 counts for speech against bureaucrats
NEWDELHI: A day after Aam Aadmi Party(aap) Mlanareshbalyan allegedly called upon a gathering to “thrash” officials who obstruct public work, the Delhi Police on Saturday booked him under five sections of the Indian Penal Code.
In the FIR registered at the Dabri police station, which was based on the statement of a police inspector, Balyan is accused of instigating the crowd. The inspector said the crowd reacted “as if the speech had an immediate impact on them”.
According to the police, the case was registered under IPC sections 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 505 (1) (making a statement with intent to incite), 116 (abetment of offence), 186 (obstructing public servant from discharging public functions) and 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharging duty).
The complainant in the case was inspector Manoj Kumar, who was allegedly present at the spot when Balyan was making the speech in the JJ Colony of Bindapur on Friday afternoon. “Whatever the honourable MLA said, it made for a cognizable offence,” said Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police’s spokesperson.
Balyan, however, was yet to be questioned by the police as of Sunday evening. Balyan said he found out about the development only after being informed by a journalist. “I am yet to know under what sections I have been booked and whether they are bailable,” he said.
Responding to the development, AAP’S spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP of “controlling” the Delhi Police. “Video evidence is available where IAS and other officers are seen beating Delhi ministers and the Delhi dialogue commission’s vice chairman. Why is there not a single arrest (in these cases)? Is this not politics? Why is the IAS association silent on the criminal acts of their own officers? ... Why is the L-G not taking any action?” he said.
According to the inspector’s statement in the FIR, a 600-strong “aggressive” crowd responded by saying they would visit government offices and do as instructed.
On Friday, the AAP had distanced itself from the controversial speech. “Strongly condemn statement made by Naresh Balyan. All government officers need to be treated respectfully,” senior AAP leader, Atishi Marlena, had said in a tweet.