The Delhi Assembly has escalated a major confrontation with the Punjab Police, issuing formal notices to three of its senior-most officers. The action comes after an FIR was registered in Jalandhar against Delhi's Law Minister, Kapil Mishra, for allegedly sharing an edited video of the Assembly's proceedings.
Notices Issued with a 48-Hour Deadline
On Saturday, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta announced that notices have been served to Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP), the Special DGP (Cyber Cell), and the Jalandhar Police Commissioner. The officers have been directed to respond within 48 hours. The core issue is an FIR filed by the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate on Friday against BJP MLA and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra.
The case pertains to a video clip from Tuesday's Assembly session, which was later shared by Mishra on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday. The video allegedly showed AAP's Leader of Opposition, Atishi, making disrespectful remarks about Guru Tegh Bahadur following a debate on the ninth Sikh Guru's martyrdom anniversary. The Punjab Police have claimed the video is "doctored."
A Matter of Privilege and Dignity
Speaker Vijender Gupta framed the issue as a severe constitutional matter, directly impacting the dignity and privileges of the legislative house. He stated that any recording from inside the Assembly is the exclusive property of the House itself and not of any individual, party, or external agency.
"Misuse of the property of the House in this manner, and registration of an FIR against a minister on the basis of such material, is not only unfortunate but also extremely serious and condemnable," Gupta told reporters. He questioned the legal basis and authority under which the Punjab Police registered the FIR.
The Assembly Secretariat has also referred the original video for a forensic examination and to its Committee of Privileges. It has demanded all related documents and the forensic report from the Punjab Police that led them to conclude the video was manipulated.
Political Crossfire and Demands
The incident has triggered a fierce political battle. Gupta specifically targeted the Jalandhar Police Commissioner, stating his role was "highly questionable" and represented a prima facie case of breach of privilege. "Anyone found directly or indirectly involved in this conspiracy will face the strictest possible action by the House," he warned.
Meanwhile, BJP MLAs have demanded the cancellation of Atishi's Assembly membership for the alleged insult to the Sikh Guru. On the other side, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded the revocation of Kapil Mishra's membership over what it terms the 'beadbi' (disrespect) of the Sikh Gurus.
This development marks a significant inter-state institutional clash, pitting the privileges of the Delhi Legislative Assembly against the policing authority of Punjab. The responses from the three senior police officers, due within the next two days, will determine the next phase of this escalating controversy.
