Could Not Establish How Riots Case Investigation Details Were Leaked To Media : Delhi Police Tells High Court

In a development with regards to student activist Asif Iqbal Tanha's plea regarding the leakage of his alleged confessional statement to media in connection with Delhi Riots case, the Delhi Police has informed High Court that during enquiry, the Enquiry Officer could not establish the officers or office from where the investigation details were allegedly shared with media.

It has also been informed that the Enquiry Officer had examined various media personnel who refused to share details of their sources from where they had accessed investigation related documents.

Furthermore, the Court has also been informed that further directions are being issued so that the case files are handled with "utmost alacrity" and chargesheets are also filed "strictly following due process of law".

"It must also be ensured that such issues as raised in the present matter are not repeated in the future." The affidavit filed on behalf of Delhi Police reads.

The Police has also stated that no prejudice has been caused to Tanha in exercise of his right to free and fair trial.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Mukta Gupta was scheduled to hear the matter today.

During the course of hearing, the Court was informed by Advocate Rajat Nair, representing the Delhi Police, that an affidavit had been filed in the matter along with an enquiry report which is adequately submitted in a sealed cover.

In view of this, the Court said that it will pursue the material on record and accordingly posted the matter for further hearing on August 11.

Earlier, the Court had expressed its displeasure with the evasive stand taken by the Delhi police in responding to the grievance raised by Tanha.

Standing Counsel for Delhi Police, Amit Mahajan had refuted the claim that the leakage was done by the police and said that responsibility for the allegations cannot be affixed on them.

The Court had also come down heavily on the Vigilance Branch of Delhi Police for its failure to identify the source of leakage and said "This vigilance enquiry is even worse than what they do in a petty theft case."

Tanha had filed the petition being aggrieved by the various news reports appearing in electronic media reporting that he had allegedly confessed to organizing and inciting communal riots that that occurred in North-East Delhi.

Therefore, the plea was filed seeking a direction for media houses and social-media to take down sensitive information (allegedly leaked by police to media channels) connected to the investigation in his case. It was also argued before the HC that the leak was aimed to vilify and prejudice his right to a fair trial.