'Dog' remark haunts VK Singh: Delhi court reserves order on plea for FIR against minister

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday reserved its order on a criminal complaint seeking lodging of an FIR against Union minister VK Singh for his alleged “dog” remark in wake of an incident in Faridabad where two children of a Dalit family were allegedly burnt alive. Metropolitan Magistrate Muneesh Garg fixed the matter for pronouncement of order on 7 December after hearing the submissions of the complainant, advocate Satya Prakash Gautam, who said Singh, the minister of state for external affairs, had hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community. Gautam has also sought action against the SHO of Jafrabad police station and the investigating officer for not taking action on his complaint and refusing to register an FIR in the matter. [caption id=“attachment_1566479” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Gen (Retd.) VK Singh. PTI[/caption] The lawyer argued that there has been a violation of section 17 of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as such matters cannot be investigated by a police officer below the rank of deputy superintendent of police. “Singh called those minor children of the Dalit community ‘dogs’. It is insulting and humiliating to compare my community with a dog. How can police say there is nothing derogatory? I want action against them for saying there is no evidence,” the advocate said. “Summon, try, punish and confiscate his entire property which the accused person had collected through unfair means by exploiting the religious feelings of innocent citizens, under appropriate sections SC/ST (POA) Act, IT Act and IPC,” the complaint by the advocate had said. The police, in its action taken report (ATR), had earlier told the court that the former Army Chief had not made any “specific derogatory and humiliating statement” warranting his prosecution on the complaint for his alleged “dog” remark. The ATR said that no cognisable offence was made out against Singh for his alleged remarks on 21 October. “In this regard, it is to submit that as per complaint, no specific derogatory and humiliating remarks are found as per law regarding Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe community. No cognisable offence was made out,” the ATR had said. Singh had kicked up a storm with his alleged remarks in connection with the Faridabad incident, that the government cannot be blamed if anyone throws a stone at a dog. The court had on 29 October directed the police to file the ATR on the criminal complaint seeking lodging of FIR against Singh under provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Information Technology Act and IPC. The complaint had said, “The statement of Gen VK Singh has caused immense damage to the entire community with a view to denigrating the prestige and honour of Scheduled Caste with deliberate and malicious intention.” PTI