New Delhi: The police on Wednesday sent a notice to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to appear before it on Friday in connection with the alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash that took place in February. The Delhi unit of BJP expressed hope that the chief minister would join the police probe into the assault case without “indulging in politics”.

Reacting sharply to the development, the AAP alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “misusing” the Delhi police to “bother” Mr Kejriwal. A senior police officer said that the notice was sent to Mr Kejriwal on Wednesday to join the investigations on May 18 at 11 am.

The notice said, “You (Kejriwal) are required to attend investigation and be available at your residence/office on May 18 at 11 am. In the event, such timing is not convenient to you due to official exigencies, kindly intimate an alternate time.”  However, Mr Kejriwal has not responded to the notice, the official said.

There is also a possibility that the police may ask deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to join the investigation.

Reacting to the notice, AAP’s Delhi unit chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “It is for the first time in India that a chief minister is being examined in a fake case. Modi ji is misusing the police to bother the chief minister but people stand by Mr Kejriwal.”

He also alleged that the Prime Minister is “pressurising” Anshu Prakash to pursue a false case against the AAP supremo. Last month, Mr Kejriwal’s private secretary Bibhav Kumar and a party volunteer Vivek Kumar were also questioned in connection with the case.  

The police have already questioned the 11 AAP MLAs who were present at the chief minister’s residence for the meeting on February 19 in which Mr Prakash was allegedly attacked.

The “conspiracy” of assault on Mr Prakash was “hatched” at Mr Kejriwal’s residence so it was no surprise that he was to be questioned by the police, alleged Vijender Gupta, BJP legislator and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly.

“The chief minister should cooperate in investigation instead of indulging in politics over it,” Mr Gupta said.

He also criticised the Delhi police for delaying the questioning of Kejriwal in connection with the case. “It is a delayed step by the police. I fail to understand why police were hesitant in questioning him,” he said.