Pankaj Jain
New Delhi, Jan 13 (.) The Delhi Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday directed Punjab Police to submit its response by January 15 in connection with an FIR registered in Jalandhar about a video clip allegedly involving Atishi, leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
Speaker Vijender Gupta said the events began on January 6, when the leader of Opposition did not attend the House, leading to repeated disruptions and the Assembly being unable to function for three consecutive days.
He said the disputed video was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination on January 8, while an FIR was registered by the Punjab Police in a dramatic manner on January 9.
The Speaker alleged that the Punjab Police attempted to influence the Assembly’s ongoing inquiry and intervened under political pressure even before the Privileges Committee could arrive at any decision, creating confusion in the process.
He said a notice was subsequently issued to the Punjab Police. Gupta expressed surprise that while the Punjab Police completed the FSL examination and registered an FIR within hours, it later sought an extension of 10 days to submit its reply, raising questions over the impartiality of the police.
He said considering the circumstances, the Assembly found the request for 10 days inappropriate and granted only three days’ time, directing the Punjab Police to submit a factual report by January 15 to enable further action.
According to an official communication issued by the Delhi Assembly Secretariat on January 12, the matter relates to an FIR registered under the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate concerning a video clip of Atishi. The Secretariat stated that a request from the Punjab Police seeking additional time to submit its reply was placed before the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.
The letter, addressed to the Special Director General of Police, State Cyber Crime, Punjab, Mohali, said that considering the seriousness of the issue, the Speaker has directed that the reply must be submitted on or before January 15.
Earlier, the Office of the Director General of Police, Punjab, in a communication dated January 12, sought an extension of 10 days to apprise the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly about the factual position of the case. The Punjab Police stated that the additional time was required in the interest of justice.
. PKJ PRS