SC rejects police plea against HC order for testimony’s copy to Delhi CM, others in CS assault case

By LE Desk

New Delhi, July 1, 2021: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the police plea against the Delhi High Court order asking it to supply a copy of the statement of a witness to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 11 other MLAs in a case related to alleged assault of the then chief secretary Anshu Prakash in 2018.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chyandrachud rejected Delhi Police’s plea, saying that as per the basic principle of natural justice, there must be a “robust common sense” that the accused must have the copy of the statement of the witnesses, news agency PTI reported.

The criminal case relates to an alleged assault on Prakash during a meeting at Kejriwal’s official residence on February 19, 2018. Kejriwal, Sisodia and nine other AAP MLAs were granted bail in the matter October 2018 . The other two MLAs, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, were granted bail earlier by the high court.

The alleged assault had triggered a bitter tussle between the Delhi government and its bureaucrats.