The Delhi Police Commissioner has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court regarding recent protest management. The document justifies restrictions on internet and metro services, details the treatment of detainees, and requests the discharge of contempt notices by offering an unconditional apology.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar has filed an official affidavit in the Supreme Court concerning a contempt case triggered by the management of recent protests in the capital. The submission serves as an interim response to judicial inquiries regarding the restriction of public services during these events.
The affidavit details the police’s rationale for implementing prohibitory orders. Citing Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act and Section 172 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the department argued that measures were necessary to maintain law and order. The Commissioner asserted that actions taken followed legal frameworks to ensure public safety.
Addressing operational concerns, the police provided data on infrastructure restrictions. According to the filing, metro station closures affected roughly 15 percent of the network, totaling 45 out of 303 stations, with full services resuming by 10 p.m. the day following the October 9 directive. Regarding cellular internet suspension, the Commissioner clarified that the action was a targeted response to identified security threats within a four-kilometre radius of Raisina Hill, rather than a general blackout.
The document also challenged allegations regarding the treatment of detained individuals, stating that those held at centers were provided with fresh meals and appropriate care. The police highlighted that the scale of the protest exceeded initial agreements, with 35,000 participants gathering instead of the planned 1,000. The affidavit further noted that this surge led to over 240 injuries among police personnel during the incident.
In an effort to resolve the legal matter, Commissioner Kumar offered an unconditional apology to the bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The police have requested the discharge of the contempt notice, maintaining that there was no willful violation of judicial orders. The court’s final view on the submission will determine the future course of the proceedings.