JOIN USRamdev's trust told to respond to cops' claim
Ramdev and his followers were at Ramlila Maidan to protest against corruption and black money when they were removed from there on the night of June 4-5. A Bench of Justices P Sathasivam and A K Patnaik issued notice to the trust seeking its response on the police’s claim denying any crackdown on the Yoga guru’s followers.
The apex court had on June 6 taken suo motu cognizance of the media reports and sought a response from the Home Ministry and the Delhi police about use of “brutal force” on “innocent” people at Ramlila Maidan.
Appearing for the Delhi police, senior advocate U U Lalit refuted the charge that they used force against Ramdev’s followers for evicting them from the ground. He also provided video footage and news clippings to buttress his argument.
“We would go through the documents. Let us see and find out the truth,” the Bench said.
However, the court said let the organiser of the event also respond to the Delhi police’s claims. “You have made several allegations against them. Let them also respond to it,” the court said.
The Bench also sought a reply from the Centre on the claim of the Delhi police that they had intelligence inputs suggesting threat to Ramdev’s life. It posted the matter for further hearing on July 11.
Meanwhile, the court declined a plea by advocate Ajay Agarwal for being impleaded in the case.
“Whenever we would require your assistance, we would hear you. But right now, we are not hearing you,” the court said. The court had earlier dismissed a petition filed by Agarwal, seeking a direction to the government for bringing out a white paper on the issue as the entire incident violated fundamental rights of the fasting people.