New Delhi:
The Delhi Police was doing its duty -- acting for the sake of law and order -- and a "wrong impression was created" that it carried out a raid at the Kerala House, said its chief BS Bassi this evening.
The police had been criticised all day for its repeated visits to the state guest house following a complaint from a fringe group that beef was being served at its canteen. Even the Prime Minister's Office has sought details of the police action, sources told NDTV.
"The Delhi Police will never act against a private institution," Mr Bassi said. "We know no irregularities will take place at Kerala House, but it was our duty to investigate the matter... it could have been a situation which could have led to a communal flare up."
Mr Bassi said the police had gone to the Kerala house after receiving the complaint, since it was a "standard operating procedure".
The canteen serves buffalo meat, but it was described as beef in the menu, which had triggered the controversy when the members of the Hindu Sena had gone visiting.
Their complaint was received by the PCR at 4.21 pm and a senior officer, who was going in that direction on another errand, stopped at the Kerala House, Mr Bassi said. "He didn't notice anything unusual but alerted another team to come and take a detailed look."
In view of Kerala House's decision to serve buffalo meat tomorrow, the police chief added that adequate security will be posted at the site.
He also said the police would take action against Hindu Sena member who made the call to the PCR. "If we get a complaint from Kerala house before that, then we will of course take action on it," he added.
Earlier today, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy wrote a strongly-worded letter to PM Narendra Modi, accusing the police of overstepping its brief.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had been demanding that the police be brought under the Delhi government from the Union home ministry, too, criticised the police action.