Plea for FIR against Mani Shankar Aiyar transferred to crime branch: Police to court

The Delhi Police today informed a court here that a BJP leader's plea for lodging sedition case against suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for allegedly using derogatory remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been transferred to the crime branch.

A report was submitted in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, Manika, who was on leave today, in pursuance to the court's direction to the police to submit an action taken report in the matter.

Due to the the magistrate's absense, the hearing has now been deferred to May 4.

The matter pertains to a complaint filed by BJP leader Ajay Agrawal against Aiyar seeking lodging of a sedition case against him for hosting Pakistani officials, which allegedly "posed a threat to national security".

A matter pertaining to Mani Shankar Aiyar was already pending investigation with crime branch Delhi. Therefore, by the orders of senior officers, the complaint of Ajay Agrawal was sent to deputy commissioner of police, Crime Branch, for further course of action at their end, the report filed through Sub Inspector Deepak Panwar said.

The report said the court may seek Action Taken Report (ATR) from the crime branch in this matter.

It is therefore requested that the investigating officer of Crime Branch Delhi may be directed to submit the action taken report before the court, it said.

The plea by Agrawal, who contested the last Lok Sabha election against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli, said the meeting was held at the south Delhi residence of Aiyar and was attended by Pakistan's high commissioner and an ex-foreign minister of the neighbouring country among others.

The court had earlier directed Agrawal, the petitioner and an advocate, to supply copies of the documents in court based on which the police would file an ATR.

In his plea, Agrawal claimed that "derogatory" words were used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting held on December 6, 2017 at Aiyar's residence, which was also attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and ex-vice president Hamid Ansari.

The petitioner has sought the courts direction to the Delhi Police to book Aiyar and others present under conspiracy and sedition charges, and investigate the matter.

He had said the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry were not informed about the meeting despite India's strained relations with Pakistan.

The petitioner said he had requested the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi police for a probe but in vain.