Crime Branch forms SIT to probe Rahul Gandhi in Parliament scuffle case: Sources

The Delhi Police has transferred the investigation into the scuffle involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Parliament premises to the Crime Branch. The FIR was registered following a complaint from BJP MPs, accusing Gandhi of causing injuries to two BJP parliamentarians, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, during a violent altercation. The charges against Gandhi include voluntarily causing grievous hurt, criminal intimidation, and the use of criminal force under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the Crime Branch to investigate the case. The SIT includes seven members, comprising two Assistant Commissioners of Police, two Inspectors, and three Sub-Inspectors. The investigation will be led by ACP Ramesh Lamba, and the team will report directly to Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Kumar Sain. The case was transferred from Parliament Street Police Station to the Crime Branch’s Interstate Cell (ISC) in Chanakyapuri for a more thorough examination.

The incident occurred during a protest by opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, over remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding Dr. BR Ambedkar. The BJP alleged that Gandhi physically assaulted their MPs, Sarangi and Rajput, in an attempt to force his way into the House. Both MPs were reportedly injured during the scuffle and were treated at RML Hospital. In response, the Congress party filed a counter-complaint, accusing BJP MPs of attacking Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, causing him to fall and injure his knee.

The Congress also claimed that BJP MPs used physical force against Congress members, especially targeting female MPs. Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, emphasized that the FIR against Gandhi was unfounded and politically motivated. He stated that Congress would not back down in the face of these charges. Congress leaders have also demanded the release of CCTV footage from Parliament to help clarify the details of the altercation.

The Crime Branch will be examining both the BJP’s complaint and the Congress counter-complaint. Senior police officials confirmed that the investigation will include efforts to secure permission from the Parliament administration to access CCTV footage of the incident. This footage is expected to provide key evidence in determining the exact sequence of events during the scuffle.

The political fallout from the incident has been significant, with both the BJP and Congress accusing each other of obstructing parliamentary proceedings. The BJP has filed a breach of privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing them of sharing misleading edited clips of Amit Shah's speech, which allegedly misrepresented his statements. The breach of privilege notices are currently under review by the Parliamentary authorities.

The Crime Branch SIT’s investigation will focus on collecting evidence, reviewing testimonies, and accessing relevant CCTV footage to ascertain the facts. The investigation is expected to continue, and both parties have submitted their respective complaints for legal scrutiny.