New Delhi | Former governor Satya Pal Malik, who has been called by the CBI over an alleged insurance 'scam' in Jammu and Kashmir, and some Khap leaders staged a protest at a police station here on Saturday after not being allowed to hold a meeting at a south Delhi park as they lacked requisite permission, officials said, but rejected reports he was detained or arrested.
Sagar Preet Hooda, Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order-Zone II), however, said 24 people who refused to leave the park were detained, but released around 3 pm.
Questioning the police action, Malik said he and his supporters had gone to the R K Puram Police Station to protest as he was stopped from giving food to Khap leaders at the park. According to police, they all left the police station around 2.30 pm.
Senior Haryana-based farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said the meeting was called by Malik and a group of khap leaders, but nobody was scheduled to speak at the venue. "Where is violation of rules in this?" he asked.
Hooda, the Special Commissioner of Police, said the local police received information about 10 am that an "unknown tent" has been installed at the MCD Public Park, Sector 12, R K Puram.
"SHO, RK Puram, along with staff reached the spot and enquired, wherein it was revealed that a gathering/ protest under the leadership of Sh. Satya Pal Malik, former Governor, was likely to be held," he said in a statement.
He said this was a public park in a residential area near the DPS R K Puram. "This is not a place for protests and they were further advised to organise such protest at Jantar Mantar, which is the designated site for such activities," Hooda said.
They had not given any application or intimation to the local police or the land-owning agency in this regard, he said.
"Local Police tried to persuade the organisers and participants to leave the park. But, they refused to leave the park. After which 24 persons, who were refusing to leave the site, were detained and sent to PS Jafarpur Kalan," the IPS officer said.
He said Malik came to the park later and he was also informed about the same. "After which, he on his own volition reached Police Station RK Puram, along with 20 supporters, at around 12:30 pm. He remained there for about 2 hours and then left PS. Around 3 pm his 24 supporters were also released from PS Jafarpur Kalan," Hooda said. "Shri Satya Pal Malik, former Governor was neither arrested nor detained by Delhi Police," he added.
Another senior police officials said after the former Jammu and Kashmir governor was informed that the meeting could not be held at the park, he and his supporters left the place and arrived at the R K Puram police station.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C said in a statement, "We have not detained former governor Satya Pal Malik. He came on his own volition, along with his supporters, to the R K Puram police station and we have informed him that he can leave at his own will." Speaking to the mediapersons before going to the police station, Malik said he wanted to give food to the Khap leaders who were at the park.
"I don't have much space in my house, so I decided to give them food here (at the park). They (police) have orders from somewhere not to allow the gathering and let me give them the food. I told them 'arrest me and I am coming with you'." When asked what the police told him, he said, "(they said) will not allow." "Why should we go to an alternative place? We will go to the police station and offer a satyagrah there...I am going to R K Puram police station and I will protest there," he said.
Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni told PTI, "I fail to understand why we were not allowed by police to hold the meeting as there was no scheduled speech of any farmer leaders there. Malik ji wanted to serve food to farmer leaders at the park. Where is violation of rules in this." Asked whether the said meeting was scheduled in wake of the CBI asking Malik to answer certain queries in connection with an alleged insurance scam in Jammu and Kashmir, Chaduni said, "It (meeting) was already scheduled to be held on Saturday." Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police took to Twitter to say that reports about Malik's detention was false.
"False information is being spread on social media handles regarding detention of Sh. Satyapal Malik, Ex. Gov. Whereas, he himself has arrived at P.S. R K Puram along with his supporters. He has been informed that he is at liberty to leave at his own will," it said in a tweet.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has asked Malik to answer certain queries in connection with an alleged insurance scam in Jammu and Kashmir.
This is the second time in seven months that Malik, who has served as the governor of various states, will be questioned by the federal agency. Malik was questioned by the CBI sleuths in October last year after he concluded his gubernatorial responsibilities in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and finally, Meghalaya.
The CBI move comes barely a week after Malik gave an interview to "The Wire", in which he made critical remarks about the BJP-led Centre, especially regarding its handling of Jammu and Kashmir where he served as the last governor before the erstwhile state was bifurcated into Union territories.
