The Aam Aadmi Party has launched a sharp attack on the Delhi Police, accusing the force of deliberate inaction and shielding individuals who allegedly threatened and abused women and children celebrating Christmas in South Delhi's East of Kailash area. The controversy stems from a video of an incident dated December 21, which the party claims shows clear intimidation, but which police have dismissed as a minor verbal spat.
Video Evidence and AAP's Formal Complaint
On Saturday, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj escalated the matter by filing a formal complaint at the Amar Colony police station. Bhardwaj asserted that the circulated video footage clearly depicts "goons" threatening, abusing, and intimidating women and children who were wearing Santa Claus caps. He emphasized that the identities of the accused men are visible in the video and could be further traced using CCTV cameras installed in the local market.
"The whole world has seen these videos. There were threats, abuses and intimidation," Bhardwaj stated. He criticized the police response, noting that even after the Station House Officer (SHO) visited the incident site, no First Information Report (FIR) was registered. The AAP leader has demanded action under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to religious harassment, promoting enmity, and outraging the modesty of women.
Police Stand: A "Minor and Momentary" Disagreement
The Delhi Police, however, maintains a starkly different view of the event. In an official statement released on December 21, the South East district police described the episode as a "minor and momentary verbal disagreement" that was "amicably resolved on the spot." The police clarified that no PCR call or formal complaint was received at the time.
The statement further elaborated that preliminary verification indicated the issue was "personal and isolated in nature," did not escalate into a law-and-order situation, and crucially, had no communal or religious angle. When contacted again on Saturday for comment on AAP's complaint, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East district) declined to provide any additional statement.
Political Allegations and Threat of Legal Action
The AAP has not limited its criticism to the local police action alone. Saurabh Bhardwaj also hinted at pressure from the Centre influencing the police's reluctance to file a case. The party has warned that if the police continue to delay registering an FIR, they will be forced to move the court to seek justice in the matter.
This incident has ignited a fresh political debate around policing and the protection of citizens during religious festivities. The contrasting narratives—one alleging serious intimidation and police apathy, and the other describing a quickly resolved personal argument—place the spotlight on the handling of such sensitive issues in the national capital.
