‘Charges against cops over probe into riots could be motivated’

New Delhi: Accusations against police over its probe into the northeast Delhi violence could be “motivated” and are also directed at the court of law, the chief of the force, SN Shrivastava, has said. In February, the northeastern parts of the national capital were rocked by communal violence that claimed at least 53 lives and injured many people.
The police have been criticised for their handling of the investigation in various quarters, including by student activists, filmmakers and civil society groups, who have accused the force of carrying out a “witchhunt” at a time when the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic.
Shrivastava said whether there is a lockdown or not, law-and-order issues will have to be handled with precautions.
“You can also expect many such accusations to be motivated and coming from people who may have reasons to make false accusations,” he told PTI over the phone.
Shrivastava asserted that the Delhi Police is a “credible force”, which has carried out the investigation into the northeast Delhi violence “with full responsibility” and has “been very fair and transparent”.
For those raising questions against the force, he said the police have the power to confine a person and make an arrest but within 24 hours, they need to produce him in a court. The arrests made in connection with the northeast Delhi violence have been sanctioned and approved by the court of law, the police commissioner said.
He said if there are accusations against the police, then those are also directed at the court of law and stressed that they cannot keep a person under arrest beyond 24 hours unless they have the sanction and approval of the court concerned.
“So do they mean that the courts are also influenced, which is not the case,” he said. (PTI)