New Delhi, 03 November (H.S.): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to take suo motu cognisance of the conduct of Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishtha after a group of lawyers urged it to intervene over alleged threatening and derogatory remarks against members of the legal fraternity.

The matter was mentioned before a Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre. The court asked the lawyers to file a formal petition along with all available supporting documents, assuring them that it would examine the matter once the plea was submitted.

During the hearing, the lawyers alleged that remarks such as “use of an AK-47” and “goons in black coats” had been made against advocates. Urging the Acting Chief Justice to initiate proceedings on his own motion, one of the lawyers told the Bench, “You are our head. If you take suo motu cognisance of this matter, it will give us a sense of reassurance.”

The court, however, asked them to approach it through a proper petition, reiterating that the matter would be considered once the relevant material was placed before it.

The development comes a day after, on November 2, Delhi Police personnel gathered outside the Police Headquarters to protest against the transfer of ACP Manasvi Vashishtha and Inspector Arun Kumar. The two officers had been transferred following a confrontation between lawyers and police personnel at Shahdara Police Station.

The dispute began after advocate Lalit Bansal sustained a serious head injury during an altercation. The incident prompted lawyers to question the conduct of the police personnel involved. Advocates subsequently alleged that ACP Vashishtha had intimidated them by displaying his revolver. Vashishtha has since been suspended over allegations of threatening lawyers.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar