Circular issued after Kerala House ‘raid’

Facing flak for “breach of protocol” in connection with the Kerala House episode, the Delhi police has now issued a circular asking its officers to contact the resident commissioners of all state bhavans, in case of situations requiring preventive action.

The circular issued by the Delhi police on Wednesday noted that the officials who went to inquire about beef being sold at Kerala House “did not establish liaison with the resident commissioner or his representative, while securing the place and making enquiries.” The circular, signed by senior special commissioner of police (law & order), further stated: “Henceforth, whenever any occasion/situation arises and preventive or other action is required at any of the State Bhavans, efforts should also be made to contact the resident commissioner or his representative.”

“Where delay can result in any commission of crime or escalate law and order problem or damage to life and property, appropriate legal action should be initiated without any delay. In such situations, assistance of the resident commissioner or their representative should be obtained at the first opportunity,” the circular added. The communication was issued hours after Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta was detained — and later arrested on Wednesday — for breaching peace and tranquillity of an area, said a senior official. Gupta had allegedly made a false complaint that beef was being served at the Kerala House canteen.

Delhi police commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi had later said that they were contemplating action under Section 182 of IPC against Gupta for the “false complaint.” The Delhi police had come under the attack from various quarters, including the Kerala government, for failing to contact the resident commissioner before they “raided” the Kerala House canteen. The police maintained that it wasn’t a raid, but just an inquiry, which they claimed was under the law of the land.