Turf war escalates in suicide probe

The turf war between the Delhi government and the Centre on the farmer's suicide escalated on Friday with the magisterial probe ordered by the state going ahead with its work despite Delhi Police refusing cooperation.

Delhi Police did not rule out questioning the chief minister and deputy chief minister in connection with the suicide.

New Delhi District Magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar, who has been told by Delhi Police that he has no jurisdiction to go into the suicide issue, on Friday initiated a probe into it by issuing a public notice asking public to share any information or evidence about the incident. The DM has also sought video footage of the incident from TV channels for his inquest under Section 174(1) of the Cr PC in cases related to unnatural death.

A turf war began on Thursday when Kumar had written to the area deputy commissioner of police to provide all evidence regarding the incident as the AAP government had directed him to carry out a magisterial inquiry into the death.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Vijay Singh replied to him saying he has no jurisdiction to probe the case and refused to submit evidence before him.

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi justified the police stand saying "we function as per rule of law".

He sought to downplay reports of a confrontation between the police, which functions under the central government, and the AAP government in Delhi.

"There is a confidentiality between government departments which will be maintained. We function as per rule of law. Whatever is necessary is being done in the case," he said.

He said that the preliminary post-mortem report said that he died due to hanging.

Asked whether the police will question Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Bassi did not give a direct reply and merely said, "Whatever is relevant will be taken into account."