New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Delhi Police for the late night crackdown on followers of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan on June 4.
A bench comprising Justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar asked Delhi Police Commisoner “why teargas shells were used in the enclosed pandals at Ramlila Maidan?”
The apex court also reprimanded the Union Home Secretary for not filing his affidavit till now.
Baba Ramdev, in his affidavit, has blamed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for the brutal police action against his followers. He has also urged the Supreme court to summon Mr Chidambaram and seek an explanation from him and that he should be made a party in the case.
The Supreme court had taken suo-motu cognisance of the media reports in both electronic and print media and had directed the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government, and Delhi Police Commisioner to file personal affidavits giving reasons as well as the circumstances under which police action at 0130 hrs at night was necessitated.
Baba Ramdev was taken out of Delhi and was restrained from entering the national capital for 15 days.
Baba Ramdev filed his affidavit last week following the issuance of notice to his Bharat Swabhiman Trust.
Yoga guru has alleged in the Supreme Court that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was behind the midnight crackdown on him and his followers.
Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani appearing for Ramdev sought a direction that the Home Minister should explain the incident and notice should be issued to him personally.
Jethmalani said Ramdev had taken a decision not to walk down to Jantar Mantar protest on the issue of corruption and was staying with his followers at the Ramlila Maidan when the crackdown was launched.
He alleged there was no order of externment against Ramdev and therefore Chidambaram must be called to explain when the decision was taken and why it was taken to get the area vacated. However, before Jethmalani began the submissions, the bench asked senior advocate Harish Salve, who was appearing for the police, that there was need for response on some of the issues on which the law enforcing agency was silent. (Agencies)