AAP-BJP scuffle: As it happened on Thursday

The Delhi Police has booked several Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi, for rioting after their party workers clashed with the members of the BJP outside its headquarters yesterday.

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has booked several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi, for rioting after their party workers clashed with the members of the BJP outside its headquarters yesterday. At least 14 AAP workers were also arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the case. Latest Updates:

The Gujarat Police has registered a case against Arvind Kejriwal in Kutch for using microphone and loudspeakers without permission. "Kejriwal addressed a public rally today at Rishabh Circle of Gandhidham where he used loudspeaker without Election Commission`s permission. This is a breach of Model Code of Conduct, so we lodged an FIR," Superintendent of Police, Dipak Meghani, said.

Soon after his car came under alleged attack at Himmatnagar in Gujarat, Manish Sisodia cautioned the BJP from underestimating the power of Aam Gujarati:

If BJP leaders think they can hide corruption in Gujarat by attacking my car,then they are underestimating the power of Aam Gujarati

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) March 6, 2014

The car of senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia has been attacked, tweeted Arvind Kejriwal. Sisodia is on a four-day visit to Gujarat along with Kejriwal.

Manish's car attacked just now. His window pane smashed.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 6, 2014

The Delhi Police has released AAP leader Ashutosh after questioning. Talking to reporters, Ashutosh, who has been booked for rioting, said he was just trying to pacify protesters, not provoke them.

AAP leader Shazia Ilmi, who was booked for rioting, has been released by police after three hours of questioning. Talking to reporters afterwards, Ilmi said she was asked why we were outside the BJP office. Saying that she answered all the questions asked by police, Ilmi added that if need be, she will come again to help police with the probe. Alleging that she did not do anything, Ilmi said she asked police the basis for the FIR lodged against her. The AAP leader described the clashes between her party members and the BJP as an unfortunate incident.

The Aam Aadmi Party has been served a notice by the Delhi`s Chief electoral office for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct over yesterday`s violent protest outside BJP headquarters. New Delhi`s Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Ameya Abhyankar has asked AAP to explain by 3 PM tomorrow as to why action should not be initiated against it for holding a protest without permission from poll officials and in violation of the MCC, which came to force since yesterday after the poll dates were announced.

Election Commissioner HS Brahma says that the Delhi wing of the poll body will take appropriate actions against AAP for violating model code of conduct and staging protest outside the BJP headquarters without seeking prior permission.

AAP workers stop police vehicle as Shazia Ilmi is being taken to the Mandir Marg Police station for questioning.

After Ashutosh, another AAP leader Shazia Ilmi is being taken for questioning by the Delhi Police in connection with yesterday`s attack on BJP`s office. “My name is in the FIR so the police is taking me to the station. I am abiding with them. Everyone has seen yesterday’s footage, I didn`t raise my hand even once. Delhi Police`s version that stone-pelting started from AAP`s side is absolutely untrue,” says Ilmi.

14 AAP workers, who were arrested by the Delhi Police for attacking the BJP office here yesterday, granted bail.

AAP leader says he is going to appear before Delhi Police and appealed his supporters to remain calm. “I am going with police to assist in investigation, appeal to supporters to maintain calm. I am a law abiding citizen of India. I do not believe in violence. I will fully co-operate with Delhi Police,” says Ashutosh before being taken for questioning by the Delhi Police.

AAP leaders Ashutosh and Akhilesh Tripathy served notice under Section 160 of the CrPC to join in the police investigations. The AAP leaders will be taken to Parliament Street Police Station along with Akhilesh Mani Tripathy in a short while, sources say.

Delhi Police reaches AAP`s Model Town office to arrest Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi and other named in its FIR for attacking the BJP`s office yesterday.

Delhi Police submits a report to the Election Commission blaming Arvind Kejriwal`s party for the violence at the BJP office yesterday.

Acting on the complaint filed by the BJP, the Election Commission has a issued a notice to the Aam Aadmi Party for violating the model code of conduct.

The EC has asked AAP to explain its stand within 24 hours. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party will have to explain why it held a political event - protests outside BJP office - without informing the Commission.

BJP delegation meets Delhi Election Commission and registers a complaint against AAP in connection with yesterday`s attack on its headquarters by Arvind Kejriwal`s supporters.

“We have registered a complaint with EC against AAP. This party is working like goons. If AAP is not stopped, this may happen in other parts of the country,” says Naqvi.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal apologises for his party workers` behaviour in Delhi and Lucknow while protesting his "detention" and urges them to stick to non-violence.

BJP leaders Dr Harsh Vardhan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Nalin Kohli meet the Election Commissioner to register their complain against the AAP.

Delhi Police gets permission to arrest AAP leaders Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi, Anand Kumar and several others in connection with a violent scuffle between then and the BJP workers yesterday.

BJP senior leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Dr Harsh Vardhan and Nalin Kohli to meet CEC at 12.30 pm to lodge complaint against the AAP.

AAP`s Shazia Ilmi reacts to the action taken by Delhi Police in connection with the case. “FIR Shows discriminatory attitude of Delhi Police, we believe in non-violence,” Ilmi says. “Ready to face arrest, very unfair that FIR has been filed only against AAP leaders,” she adds.

Ashutosh reacts by saying, “Not a single BJP worker has been arrested so far. How can anyone believe that? Our AAP workers were hurt themselves?

“Why has no action been taken against those BJP workers who beat up our volunteers in Lucknow?, the AAP leader said alleges, “The Delhi Police is taking orders from Narendra Modi and not from the Home Minister.”

Delhi Police names Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi, Prof Anand Kumar and several other AAP workers in its FIR filed in Parliament Street Police Station, which says that the party workers illegally gathered outside BJP headquarters in Delhi.

The AAP leaders have been booked under Sections 145, 147, 149, 37, 353 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code.

The police arrests at least 14 AAP workers in connection with the incident and will produce them before the Patiala House Court today.

MK Meena, Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, says, “All those named in FIR will be arrested and action will be taken against them.”

Earlier this morning, Ashutosh tweets, “No arrest of BJP leaders and activists till now by Delhi Police ? Is BJP and Police hand in glove !!!”.

“Why no BJP worker and leader is arrested till now? Why only AAP leaders and volunteers arrested?, Can you believe it Prof Anand Kumar, the most respected professor is arrested and Nalin Kohli is roaming free?” his tweet says. Ashutosh also alleges that he and his party is being targeted and accused Delhi Police of colluding with the BJP.

BJP slams the Congress and AAP for trying to divert attention by resorting to cheap tactics ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi of BJP says, “Why is Congress acting as AAP`s spokesperson? Again using pawns to fight? These pawns have no credibility.”

“I want to appeal to our workers to not get provoked by AAP. That is their game plan. We have to be peaceful,” Naqvi said.

The AAP workers are planning to approach the Election Commission today to demand a thorough probe into the incidents in Gujarat, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the state BJP leaders have also urged the Election Commission to take appropriate action against the erring AAP workers.

AAP workers had yesterday protested outside BJP headquarters in Lucknow and Delhi hours shortly after party chief Arvind Kejriwal`s car was damaged in Gujarat where he was detained briefly. The protests soon turned violent with workers from both parties pelting stones at each other. Delhi Police had to use water cannon to disperse them.

Arvind Kejriwal later apologised and said that the party workers were instigated by BJP workers who attacked AAP workers. The AAP convener appealed to his supporters to maintain peace and not engage in any violent activities. Kejriwal also questioned, "Why Narendra Modi is rattled with my tour of Gujarat?"

Kejriwal`s convoy came under attack by unidentified people at Kharohi near Bhuj in Gujarat after he was released by the police. Reports claimed that Kejriwal was not present in the car when the AAP convoy was attacked.

The violence came on a day the EC announced the Lok Sabha poll schedule and police in Gujarat stopped Kejriwal, who began a four-day tour of the state, on his tracks for alleged violation of the model code of conduct by travelling in a long cavalcade.