Delhi Government today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged encounter killing of Manoj Vashishtha, a wanted criminal, at a restaurant in Central Delhi's New Rajender Nagar area.
"A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the government," A Delhi Government spokesperson said.
Officials said that the decision was taken after Vashishtha's family members met Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal at his residence this evening and demanded a fair inquiry into the alleged encounter.
Vashishtha, who was wanted in several cases of fraud and other crimes, was hit by a bullet in the gunbattle with a team of Special Cell of Delhi Police last evening.
"Vashishtha was a wanted criminal and carried a reward on his head. We had received a tip-off that he would be coming to Sagar Ratna restaurant in New Rajender Nagar, following which a trap was laid. When he reached at the spot, Manoj, sensing police presence, opened fire on our men. When the team fired back in self-defence, one bullet hit him and he was injured," Special Commissioner (Special Cell) S N Srivastava had said yesterday.
Vashishtha was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police officer said.
Vashishtha's wife Priyanka and brother Anil had earlier accused the police of staging a "fake encounter". They claimed that Vashishtha was not a hardened criminal.
