High drama as 52 MLAs march to RCR, detained

A high voltage drama was witnessed at the Parliament Street police station where 52 legislators of the Aam Aadmi Party, including Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, were detained for four hours after they tried marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence on Sunday morning.

The AAP MLAs, including six city ministers, were marching to 7 Race Course Road for Mr Sisodia’s “surrender” after a complaint was filed against the deputy chief minister by the president of the Ghazipur Vegetable Market Association on Saturday, accusing him of intimidating businessmen during an official visit to the market.

The drama began after the AAP MLAs led by Mr Sisodia were stopped near the Race Course Metro station at Tughlak Road. Security personnel deployed there requested him and other AAP MLAs to call off the march. However, as they were adamant on continuing, the police put them under preventive detention and they were taken to the Parliament Street police station in a bus and two police Gypsies.

After the detention of the AAP MLAs, the Delhi police convened a press conference at the Police Headquarters addressed by four special commissioners, two joint commissioners and two deputy commissioners.

Special commissioner of police (crime) Taj Hassan said a complaint against Mr Sisodia had been received from the Ghazipur Adhati Association on Saturday evening. “I would like to clear that whenever any complaint is received from a representative or against a representative, we have to take legally correct judicious action. And if any cognisable offence is found, then only action is necessary,” Mr Hassan said.

The police said earlier that it had received a complaint from president Surender Goswami, but no FIR would be registered as no cognisable offence was committed by Mr Sisodia.

“In Dinesh Mohaniya’s case, the MLA was not joining investigation despite notices to him. And Mr Mohaniya was booked under non-bailable offences, so he was picked up on Saturday during a press conference,” said Mr Hassan. Special commissioner of police (north zone) S.B.K. Singh said Mr Sisodia and his MLAs had been advised not to march towards the Prime Minister’s residence as Section 144 (unlawful assembly) has been already imposed in the area. “Our officers had requested them to call off the march, but they refused to take police orders,” said Mr Singh.

Mr Sisodia and all his MLAs were made to sit inside the Parliament Street police station for three hours and later allowed to go. Sources said the police had arranged lunch for them and they also offered them tea and biscuits, but they refused their offer.