Punjab police get 3-day ultimatum to explain FIR in Atishi video row

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said on Tuesday that the Punjab police have been given three days to submit a detailed response on the FIR they registered in connection with an alleged “doctored” video of former Chief Minister Atishi posted by BJP leader Kapil Mishra on social media.

Noting that the police had sought 10 days to reply, Mr. Gupta said notices have been issued to the Director General of Police (Punjab), the Special DGP (Cyber Cell), and the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar.

“Given the seriousness of the issue, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat has allowed only three days for the Punjab police to submit their full report by January 15,” he told reporters.

Vanishing act

The Speaker said that while the Punjab police claimed they registered an FIR and conducted a forensic examination “within hours”, the request for 10 days’ time to reply to the Assembly’s notice raised “serious questions” about the independence and impartiality of the investigating agency.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Mishra alleged that Ms. Atishi had been “absconding” since she allegedly made contentious remarks about Guru Tegh Bahadur in the Assembly. “It proves the sin was committed deliberately. Insult to the honour of Guru Tegh Bahadur is sacrilege. It is a crime and a sin,” he said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back, demanding a public apology from Mr. Mishra for allegedly committing “beadbi” (sacrilege) of Sikh Guru Sahibs by circulating the video. AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda said Mr. Mishra should visit the Sri Akal Takht Sahib to atone for his actions.

The row began on January 6 during the Delhi Assembly’s Winter Session, when the BJP accused the AAP leader of making “objectionable” remarks about Guru Tegh Bahadur during a discussion. On January 8, AAP alleged that Mr. Mishra had posted an “edited” and “fake” video of Ms. Atishi’s remarks on social media, calling it an “insult” to the guru.

On January 9, the Punjab Police registered an FIR regarding the allegedly “doctored” video. The Speaker issued notices to the Punjab Police Commissioner, Jalandhar, and the Special DGP, Cyber Cell next day, giving them 48 hours to provide written explanations with supporting documents.

‘Offensive hoardings’

Amid the ongoing row, the Delhi government on Tuesday released a poster featuring Ms. Atishi with the question “Where is Atishi Marlena?” and sought her response to the allegations. At a press conference, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra reiterated the demand for an apology and urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to keep the Punjab police “away from such issues”.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj countered that despite a forensic report confirming the video was “doctored”, “offensive hoardings” targeting Ms. Atishi had been put up across Delhi.