Attacked for “overstepping” its brief, Delhi Police today clarified that it did not “raid” the Kerala House after a complaint that beef was being served on its menu. They said they were mulling acting against the caller, who lodged a “false complaint”.
Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said the police did not “raid” the canteen, as it is being projected, and claimed to have acted on a PCR call.
He also said that he is yet to receive any complaint in connection with the case. However, the complaint will be acted upon as soon as it is received.
The moment we receive any complaint, we will act upon it. Otherwise also, we are contemplating action against the caller under Section 182 (false information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person) of IPC.
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi
The top city policemen said that the PCR call regarding the beef complaint was given priority because it had the potential to disrupt harmony between communities and could have had “disastrous consequences,” especially because of the caller’s “past record.” The caller has been identified as Vishnu Gupta.
“The caller was already in police’s notice because of his past record,” said Bassi, adding that the officials deployed outside Kerala House to keep a watch were instructed to take preventive action in case Vishnu Gupta and his associates were caught doing any “mischief”.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy condemning the “raid” as “highly objectionable” and shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in protest complaining that Delhi police “overstepped” their brief.
Gupta, who is the National President of right-wing group Hindu Sena, said that a friend had tipped them off about beef being served at the Kerala House canteen.
When we went there to check, we found that names of all items were written in English, except one. When we asked whether the one written in Malayalam was beef, the staff there couldn’t give a convincing answer. So we reported the matter to the police.
Vishnu Gupta, President, Hindu Sena
The BJP justified the police action, saying it was only making inquiries following a complaint and was well within its right under the law of the land.
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