EC Raps Delhi Police Official Who Linked Shaheen Bagh Shooter With AAP; Barred From Poll Duty

According to reports, the election body directed the Delhi Police not to assign him any poll-related work. Slamming the Police official, EC said Deo's conduct has 'consequences' on holding "free and fair elections".

Deo had claimed that the gunman who fired shots in Shaheen Bagh on February 1 was a member of AAP. (File Photo/ PTI)

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday said that statements made by Delhi Police Crime Branch referring Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in connection with the Shaheen Bagh shooter were 'totally uncalled for' and has also barred DCP Rajesh Deo from election duty taking a strong view of his media interaction. The official had on Tuesday evening shared with the media details of the investigation that linked Shaheen Bagh shooter Kapil Baisala to the AAP. According to reports, the election body directed the Delhi Police not to assign him any poll-related work. Slamming the Police official, EC said Deo's conduct has 'consequences' on holding "free and fair elections". Deo had claimed that the gunman who fired shots in Shaheen Bagh on February 1 was a member of AAP. As per rules, the DCP should not have named a political party when the model code of conduct (MCC) is in place in the national capital due to February 8 Assembly polls. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said on Tuesday his party will file a complaint with the Election Commission and send a legal notice to Crime Branch DCP.

Election Commission (EC) writes to Delhi Commissioner of Police over "undesirable public statements by Rajesh Deo, DCP Crime Branch". The letter states, "A warning shall be issued to Rajesh Deo & it shall be ensured that he is not assigned any work related to #DelhiElections" pic.twitter.com/1DpQvSDuJX

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2020

"I am shocked. The MCC is in place and the EC is the supreme authority. The DCP heading the investigation is saying that the photo of AAP leaders were found in the phone of the accused and they are probing the case. Is Amit Shah asking the DCP to make the statement or someone else is pushing him," Singh said during a press conference. The AAP leader said that it was wrong for a police officer to name a political party when the investigation is not even completed. "The law says that no official can name a (political) party until it has permission from the EC (when the MCC is imposed). Did the DCP take permission from the EC? No, he has the permission of (Home Minister Amit) Shah and the BJP," he said. The Rajya Sabha MP also questioned as to how the photo was leaked to the media and the BJP while the probe was still going on. Singh also said that no matter what the BJP does, the people of Delhi will vote for AAP on February 8. "All this is happening because the BJP is scared of defeat," Singh said. WATCH REPORT | EC Issues Notice To Delhi Police For Unwanted Statement On Shaheen Bagh, AAP Singh also questioned if the presence of someone in a photo was a proof of that person being involved in the crime. Singh released a photo of a man, allegedly an ISI agent, with BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prithviraj Chauhan and asked: "Does this mean the two BJP leaders have connection with the ISI and Pakistan?" The police should stop being a puppet on the hands of the BJP, Singh added. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, earlier in the day, said anyone who disturbs the law and order in the city should be punished, adding if Kapil Gujjar is from AAP, he should be punished double. On February 1, Gurjar had fired three bullets in the air after warning protesters to vacate the spot. He also raised communal slogans. According to the police, the accused was annoyed over the protest at Shaheen Bagh and the ensuing road blockade for nearly 50 days now. The firing incident came just two days after a youth from Uttar Pradesh's Jewar opened fire at anti-CAA protesters near Jamia Millia Islamia. Interestingly, the two incidents happened after Union Minister Anurag Thakur raised 'shoot the traitor' slogans during a public rally in Delhi. (With inputs from IANS)