A public interest litigation has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking action against suspended Assistant Commissioner of Police Manasvi Vashisht and other police personnel over alleged threats and public remarks against lawyers, including references to the use of an AK-47.
The petition, filed by advocate Karan Bir Singh through advocate Vikrant Dabas, seeks protection for lawyers and criminal and departmental proceedings against the police personnel named in the matter. It argues that suspending the ACP does not by itself address the constitutional issues arising from the alleged public threats and remarks.
The petition follows an incident involving a police protest against lawyers. According to the report, lawyers told the court that the suspended ACP had made comments about using an AK-47 and referred to lawyers as “goons in black coats”. The petition claims that a video circulating on social media shows Vashisht making threatening and allegedly insulting remarks.
The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice Nitin Vasudev Sambre earlier this week. An advocate had requested that the court take suo motu cognisance of the issue. The court declined to initiate proceedings on its own but indicated that it would consider the matter if a petition was formally filed.
The petition also seeks an investigation into the protest held outside Delhi Police headquarters under the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966. Other requests include directing social media platforms to remove the video, providing security to lawyers and initiating criminal and departmental action against Vashisht and other police personnel accused of making threats.
The dispute reportedly began after an incident at Shahdara police station on October 23. It later escalated into a police protest against lawyers on November 2, during which Vashisht, who was leading the protest as an ACP, allegedly made the remarks cited in the petition.
The filing places the allegations before the High Court for consideration; the claims have not been established through a final judicial finding. The court is expected to consider the petition and the reliefs sought in accordance with its judicial process.
