The Delhi Police on Wednesday received a notice from Delhi High Court, asking them to file a status report on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Amanatullah Khan, for listing him as ‘bad character,’ after opening the ‘history sheet’ against him.
A Single-Judge Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma refused to pass orders to Delhi Police for taking action against Khan.
The Bench told the Counsel that it was likely to curtail his personal liberty, but the matter required serious consideration. The Court also assured to give a date for hearing.
Justice Sharma further refused to issue any order to police for bringing this matter before the media and the people.
Khan had also moved the High Court, seeking quashing of the history sheet on the grounds that it was issued in violation of the Punjab Police Rules.
These rules were applicable to Delhi Police as well, the petitioner had contended.
Khan’s Counsel, Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui, said before the Court that whether a person was accused or not, was also decided by court, even though the concerned police officer had to accord reasons, whenever a history sheet was opened and a person was listed as ‘bad character’, but the procedure for the same as provided under the Rules was followed.
The details of the development have to be kept secret, but it was leaked to the media, he alleged.
The petitioner argued that police leaked the matter to newspapers, which published it. He contended that this was in complete violation of his rights under Article 21.
However, Delhi Police Counsel stated that the details were not leaked by the Police.
The Counsel for Delhi Police said since Khan was a political person and he may have leaked the details himself.
The Delhi Police Counsel asserted that police did not leak anything, adding that 16 FIRs were registered against Khan.
The Khan’s Counsel replied that Khan has either been discharged, or was on bail in 14 of these FIRs.
The High Court fixed July 28 as the next date of hearing.