[Vandalism outside Arvind Kejriwal residence] Delhi High Court directs Police to hand over sealed cover report to CM's secretariat

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police to hand over the status report concerning its investigation into the vandalism outside Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal’s house, to the CM’s Secretariat..A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta denied Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain's request for redacting certain portions of the report before handing it over to the CM.The portion concerns departmental inquiries against Delhi Police officers who were responsible for the lapse in security. “The whole issue concerns lapses. We have observed that there have been lapses therefore the issue about disciplinary action should also be given. You will not redact anything. Give the entire report,” the Court told the ASG..Delhi Police was also directed to file a further status report revealing the progress of its investigation into the FIR registered for the vandalism and the people who have been arrested or questioned for the offence. .The court was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj seeking an investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the vandalism by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJP’s youth wing) outside Kejriwal’s resident for his remarks on the movie 'The Kashmir Files'. The protest was alleged to have been led by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. .While hearing the matter previously, the High Court had directed Delhi Police to file its status report on the issue. The report was handed over in a sealed cover to the court today. It detailed the steps taken to improve the security around the CM’s residence in the Civil Lines area as well as the action taken against the Police officials who were responsible for the lapse in security arrangement.Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) appeared in the court personally and told the bench that the police has arrested eight people in the case but they were granted bail by the High Court. He added that 20 others have been served with notices as well. .Though Senior Advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Rahul Mehra, appearing for the petitioner, requested the court that the report should be handed over to them as well, judges said that they do not find the need to do so at present.Mehra also pointed out that the protest was led by a BJP leader who also exhorted the crowd and, therefore, the Delhi Police should also explain whether any notice has been sent to him. However, the Court did not pass any specific order in that regard.