Delhi Police deny AAP allegations, say acted as per law

Following allegations of violence by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers, the Delhi Police on Monday said the police did not indulge in violence with any protestor and added that the police is functioning according to the law.

Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Meena said, "The police did not indulge in any kind violence with any protestor. I can officially say that we did not stop the minister from going anywhere. I can't say anything else right now, but we haven't detained or arrested anyone."

"This all false, that the Delhi Police had beaten a person. The police is functioning according to the law," he added.

"I cannot disclose the strategy of the police, but we will take all the necessary steps to ensure that peace and order is maintained in the city," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is sitting on a dharna outside Rail Bhavan demanding the suspension of Police officers, who defied the orders of the Delhi Cabinet Ministers Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla.

Earlier today, AAP leader and Delhi Transport Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was taken into preventive custody by the Delhi Police. Bhardwaj was released by the police after a while.

Another AAP leader and MLA Akhilesh Tripathi was allegedly beaten by the Delhi Police and has been admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde reassured that a free and fair probe is being conducted against the three cops, who allegedly defied the orders of Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla.

He said that Kejriwal should wait for the report of the probe before staging a protest.

"He must patient and should wait for the report. He (Kejriwal) is the chief minister of Delhi and he should maintain the dignity of the chair. He should cooperate in the inquiry," Shinde had said.

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Earlier in the day, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders were stopped at Rail Bhavan by the Delhi Police while heading for a protest outside Shinde's office demanding action against Delhi Police today.

Party leader Sanjay Singh made it clear yesterday that AAP will stage the protest if no action is taken against the police officers.

AAP is demanding the suspension of the station house officers (SHO) of Sagarpur and Malviya Nagar police stations and two assistant commissioners of police.