The last few weeks have been particularly controversial for BS Bassi, who has been accused of mishandling the JNU case.
Highlights
- BS Bassi retires as Delhi Police Commissioner, Alok Verma to take over
- Bassi: Misunderstanding that Delhi Police works under political pressure
- Bassi has been criticized by many for mishandling the JNU incident
Outgoing Delhi Police Chief BS Bassi said today that it is a "misunderstanding" that the Delhi Police works under political pressure.
"Delhi Police's functional autonomy is sacrosanct. Some also think Delhi police works under political pressure. Please remove that misunderstanding," Mr Bassi said at his farewell function.
"Those who have questions regarding Delhi police autonomy, I want to take them back to history," added the officer, who retires today after a three-year term as Delhi Police Commissioner
Alok Verma will take over from him.
The last few weeks have been particularly controversial for Mr Bassi, who has been accused of mishandling the JNU case.
He was dropped from a shortlist for a post at Central Information Commission - an important anti-corruption agency - reportedly because of strong objections from the opposition Congress.
Led by Mr Bassi, the police have been accused of excessive action against students at JNU or the Jawaharlal Nehru University over an on-campus event held on February 9 in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Three students have been arrested on sedition charges and three more are wanted.
The government and Mr Bassi both claim evidence that the students, including Kanhaiya Kumar, are anti-India.
The police also face allegations of failing to check two incidents of violence by a pack of lawyers at Delhi's Patiala House court before hearings on the JNU case. As the lawyers attacked journalists and Kanhaiya Kumar's supporters, the police were accused of giving them a free run. Mr Kumar was also kicked and punched on his way into court.
As the violence had the Supreme Court send senior lawyers to investigate, Mr Bassi said the situation "was not out of hand".
Speaking at his farewell, Mr Bassi also denied any "strife with anyone"; his term was shadowed by constant clashes with the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, which accused the police of undermining it and working on the Centre's orders.
"We don't have strife with anyone. We reach out to everyone. If someone thinks that Delhi police wants to confront, then they can stop thinking that way," Mr Bassi said.
"We rely on evidence, whether it's the Sunanda Pushkar case, whether it's about recent Patiala house court incident or the JNU case."