Chandigarh: The Delhi assembly committee of privileges has found the replies of Punjab additional chief secretary Alok Shekhar, DGP Gaurav Yadav, and Jalandhar commissioner of police Dhanpreet Kaur unsatisfactory in connection with an FIR involving a purported video clip of AAP leader Atishi.
The three officers appeared before the committee individually from 2pm on Friday following summons. During a three-hour session, they were questioned regarding the registration of the Jan 7 FIR on uploading and circulation of a "doctored video" in which Atishi allegedly uttered derogatory words against Sikh Gurus during a Delhi assembly session.
"They were asked to provide reports from the social media team and the forensic lab, along with a copy of the original complaint. Instead, they only provided a copy of the FIR," committee chairman Parduymn Singh Rajput, a BJP legislator from Dwarka, told TOI. "Their replies were not satisfactory. The committee may summon them again, and the next course of action will be decided after a meeting to be held after Holi," he said.
Rajput rejected Punjab govt claims that no breach of privilege occurred because the video was not "House property".
"This matter relates to the Delhi Vidhan Sabha and its proceedings; therefore, it is directly associated with the privileges of the House. The Punjab Police registered an FIR just 19 minutes after receiving the complaint. They could have gathered facts or requested the removal of the video from the portal first. Instead, they acted under political pressure from the state govt," Rajput alleged.
On Feb 21, the committee summoned the three officers to appear in person after they failed to furnish comments by the Feb 20 deadline. On Feb 24, the Punjab home department sought an exemption for the officers, arguing that the delay in comments was administrative.
The committee denied the exemption, directing the officers to comply and appear in person.
The FIR was registered at Jalandhar Police's Cyber Crime Police Station against unidentified persons initially on Jan 7. Earlier that day, BJP leader and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, while alleging that Atishi insulted a Sikh Guru, posted a clip on X of Atishi's alleged speech during a debate in the Delhi assembly on Jan 6, featuring Hindi subtitles.
In its formal reply, the Punjab home department had cited an opinion from the state advocate general (AG), arguing that the proceedings should be "reconsidered and the matter closed".
The AG argued that no breach of privilege occurred. "A video clip that is cropped, selectively extracted, or superimposed with captions and circulated independently on social media without authorisation of the House cannot be equated with the official record of the House." The opinion further asserted that a state legislature's secretariat does not have the authority to demand documents related to an FIR investigation registered in another state for an issue unconnected to official House proceedings.
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<p>Based in Punjab with journalistic experience of over two decad...
Read More<p>Based in Punjab with journalistic experience of over two decades, Navjeevan Gopal is a senior journalist reporting on crucial issues such as drugs, crime, gangsters, terror and other security issues in the border state. The Punjab Police is one of his core beats. Currently an assistant editor with The Times of India in Punjab Bureau, he comes with a vast experience of over 18 years in The Indian Express, the national daily known for its investigative journalism. Gopal had started his career in journalism with the Hindustan Times as a contributor, gradually moving to The Indian Express and thereafter TOI. He also covers Punjab’s politics with his area of interests being the 104-year-old party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also extensively reported on Sikh diaspora settled across the globe.<br></p>
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