File photo: BJP chief Amit Shah
Two policemen who were involved in the preparation of the chargesheet against BJP President Amit Shah over an alleged hate speech, which was rejected by a local court, have been transferred. Deputy Superintendent of Police (New Mandi Circle) Yogender Singh and Investigation Officer of the case Sub-Inspector Bharat Lal were shifted yesterday.
Senior Superintendent of Police H N Singh, however, said it was a routine transfer and has no connection with the case.
Deputy SP Yogender Singh has been shifted to police lines from the Circle of New Mandi, while Sub-Inspector Bharat Lal has been shifted to Bhorakala police station from the New Mandi police station, he said.
Senior Inspector Bharat Lal had investigated the case while Deputy SP Yogender Singh had filed the chargesheet in the court. Mr Shah was chargesheeted by the police on September 10 for his alleged hate speech during campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sunder Lal on September 11 refused to take cognisance of the chargesheet against Mr Shah in connection with the alleged hate speech made by him and returned it to the police.
Mr Lal had refused to take cognisance of the chargesheet as police had not followed the provisions of 173[2] of the Code of Criminal Procedure in which they did not try to arrest the accused before filing the chargesheet in court.
Returning the chargesheet to remove errors, the court had said police cannot file a chargesheet under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code as it should be filed as a private complaint by the officer concerned, who had imposed prohibitory orders which were violated.