Protests by AAP: Court reserves order on further police probe

A Delhi court will pronounce on March 25 its order on whether to direct police to conduct further probe in three cases in which Arvind Kejriwal and other Aam Aadmi Party members were chargesheeted for allegedly rioting and unlawful assembly during their protests here.
The court today reserved its order after hearing the arguments in which police said they had fulfilled all the requirements for imposing prohibitory order under section 144 of the CrPC during the protests by AAP members in front of the Prime Minister's residence and other places here last year.
During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, AAP member and an accused in the case, told the court that the imposition of CrPC section 144 was a "clear abuse of process by the police" and it was "designed to harass them".

"During the arguments, it has been submitted that this court may direct the police to file the videography done on August 26, 2012 and also it have been submitted that this court may direct further investigation by the police.
"Arguments on the said aspect have been heard. Put up for order on March 25," Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja said.
During the arguments, police faced tough time with the court asking it to explain as to why section 144 of the CrPC was imposed in the New Delhi area.
"Just because you (police) are saying that rulers are staying in that area so you can impose section 144 of the CrPC then I must say that I am bound by the Supreme Court order," the court asked after the police said the accused should raise this issue during the trial in the case.

The court's remarks came while hearing the arguments on a plea of Kejriwal, Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and 23 other accused who had sought discharge in the case relating to charges of rioting, unlawful assembly, use of force to obstruct public servants from discharging their duty and damaging public property filed against them after protests on August 26, 2012.