Kejriwal asked to join probe into assault, AAP fumes

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been asked to join the investigation into an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs, police said on Wednesday, sparking an angry reaction from the AAP.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harendra Singh said Kejriwal had been told to present himself at his house or office at 11 a.m. on Friday.

The officer had earlier told IANS that Kejriwal had been told to present himself at the Civil Lines Police Station.

Singh added that they were yet to receive a reply from the Chief Minister's Office.

On February 20, the Chief Secretary alleged that he was assaulted by two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in the presence of Kejriwal at the Chief Minister's residence. The two, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, were arrested.

The AAP alleged that the police order proved that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was misusing police to target his opponents.

"Modiji is getting this done... First time in the history of India, the police are questioning the Chief Minister of a state in a fake case," AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

He said Modi "pressured" the Chief Secretary to file this case of assault so as to harass Kejriwal whose government, he said, was working well in the sectors of education, health, electricity and water.

"Modiji is misusing the police to trouble him (Kejriwal) but the public is with Kejriwal."

Delhi Police have questioned Bibhav Kumar, Kejriwal's private secretary, in connection with the case.

So far, the police have questioned 11 AAP MLAs who were present in the meeting at the Chief Minister's residence on February 19.

A police officer who did not want to be named said that legal action would be taken against Kejriwal if he did not cooperate with the police investigation.

--IANS

sp-nks-mg/mr