Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: In what may further intensify the war of words between Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Police, the state’s Chief Secretary on Wednesday said that latter has no authority to comment on the functioning of someone who does not come under its jurisdiction.
Talking to reporters soon after the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting called by the Chief Minister, Delhi Chief Secretary PK Tripathi said,“Delhi Police have no authority to comment on the functioning of someone who does not report to it.”
Tripathi made these remarks following a Cabinet meeting, which was also attended by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Vivek Vihar, Usha Chaturvedi, who had recorded the gang-rape victim's first statement on December 21.
Chaturvedi had triggered a controversy by accusing three senior Delhi Police officers of putting pressure on her to record the statement the way it suited police.
Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar refuted the charge and accused the Magistrate of not speaking the truth.
Notably, the Chief Minister had also written to Home Minister demanding a high-level probe into the matter.
Today’s cabinet meeting was called despite Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde ordering a "high-level independent inquiry" against senior police officials for allegedly interfering when the rape victim's statement was recorded by SDM Usha Chaturvedi.
Interestingly, the Delhi police report to the Home Ministry, not to the Delhi CM.
(With IANS Inputs)
First Published: Wednesday, December 26, 2012, 11:16