Jalandhar: Delhi assembly’s committee of privileges has put Punjab additional chief secretary (home), DGP, and Jalandhar .commissioner of police on notice, asking them to submit their
replies by Feb 12 regarding complaints of breach of privilege and contempt in the matter of alleged remarks by former Delhi chief minister Atishi about Sikh Gurus.Jalandhar commissionerate police had ordered the registration of an FIR alleging that the video clip, which was posted by Mishra and others, was doctored.
In the letters sent to the three officials on Thursday, the Delhi
assembly secretary wrote that after examination of the actions of the Punjab Police authorities, their replies, and refusal to share documents, the speaker decided there was a prima facie case of breach of privilege and contempt on the part of the additional chief secretary (home), DGP, Jalandhar commissioner of police, and any other persons found involved in this matter. The speaker, accordingly,referred the matter to the committee of privileges of the Delhi assembly with directions to examine and report on
the action of the Punjab Police and the complaint of Kapil Mishra, the letter said. The committee of privileges chairman directed officials to seek written comments in the matter to the assembly
secretariat, latest by Feb 12, for perusal of the committee of privileges. However, in the letter to the ACS (home), the letter pointed out: “Besides above, it is informed that certain information/documents as sought by this secretariat vide notice dated Jan 10 and letter dated Jan 23 have not been received in this secretariat till date
despite the fact that the same was already forwarded to your office by the director general of police, Punjab vide letters dated Jan 28.”
“It is therefore requested that the same may also be forwarded to this secretariat latest by Jan 12 along with your written comments on the above-referred complaints,” the letter added.
The FIR was registered on Jan 7 night, just hours after senior BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Congress leaders shared it. The complainant, Iqbal Singh aka I S Bagga, an AAP worker, submitted a complaint against Mishra, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Congress MLAs Pargat Singh and Sukhpal Singh Khaira, and “other persons”.
However, police did not explicitly mention their names in the list of the accused. Police issued a statement on Jan 9 about the FIR which attracted strong reaction from Delhi Speaker on the same day. In their replies sent to the Delhi Assembly Speaker, Punjab Police officers defended registration of the FIR,
arguing that it acted in accordance with law.