Shinde rejects Kejriwal's demand to suspend police officers

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday indirectly rejected the demand of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to suspend police officers for dereliction of duties in an alleged drugs and sex racket case.

Kejriwal and other members of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a sit-in protest at the Railway Ministry building as they were not allowed to proceed to enforce their demand in the case involving Uganda nationals.

Shinde urged Kejriwal to have patience as Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has assured judicial inquiry into the matter.

"When the Lieutenant Governor has given an assurance of holding a judicial inquiry, he (Kejriwal) should have faith in it. He is the chief minister of Delhi. He is holding a high office. It is important for him to co-operate. Everything will be clear in the inquiry as to who is the culprit and who is not. Action will be taken only after that," said Shinde.

Shinde said Kejriwal would not be allowed to protest outside his office as Ssection 144 of Indian law, which disallows assembly of more than five people at a place has been invoked.

"We will not grant him permission as 144 has been imposed. If they want to protest, they can go to Jantar Mantar Road, which is meant for protesters," he added.

Meanwhile,four women from Uganda, in a complaint to Delhi Police, have alleged that they were molested by a group of supporters of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti.

Bharti had alleged that the Uganda nationals were part of a drug and prostitution racket and asked the police to raid the place and arrest them on January 16. However, police refused his orders.

The government condemned the incident and promised an investigation after meeting African envoys in New Delhi on Saturday.