A day after the Delhi High court issued notices to the Police Commissioner B K Gupta and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Seju P Kuruvilla, the Delhi Police on Thursday instituted an inquiry into the incident of a constable being humiliated by his senior on the premises of a Delhi court.
On Tuesday, police constable Dinesh Kumar was asked to do forward-rolls by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kuruvilla in full public glare as punishment for allegedly speaking on the mobile phone while on duty and for not saluting him.
According to media reports, Additional DCP Kuruvilla after forcing the constable to do forward-rolls, tore off the constable’s badge and took away his cellphone.
The lawyers who witnessed the bizarre incident had complained to the district judge and showed him a video-clip of the incident that had been recorded on a mobile phone. The district judge had then ordered the Police Commissioner to take necessary action.
Representational Image. Reuters
Spokesperson for the Delhi Police on Thursday told reporters that an inquiry had been instituted under the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), following the District Judge’s order.
The incident which has caused a public uproar has also been taken cognizance of by the High Court after a lawyer submitted oral submissions seeking the initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against the IPS officer for “lowering the stature of the institution” and “scandalising” the court.
The High Court has sought a status report from the police commissioner on 15 February.
Meanwhile, the Indian Express has reported that the constable has spoken in defence of the police officer and asked that the incident not be played up.
“I do not wish trouble for my boss. These things happen while working in the police department. I do not want to look back at the incident. I want everyone to forget about it. Life has to move on,” Dinesh Kumar told the Express.