Stepping up its pressure on PoliceCommissioner Neeraj Kumar in the gang-rape case, DelhiGovernment today said he has no authority to comment onfunctioning of the SDM who complained of police interferencewhile recording the statement of the 23-year-old victim.
"The police commissioner is not an authority to take adecision on the conduct of the SDM," Delhi Chief Secretary P KTripathi said after a Cabinet meeting presided by the ChiefMinister.
Asked whether the issue was being exploited to getpolitical mileage, Tripathi vehemently rejected the allegationand said "no politics is taking place on the issue."
Sources said the cabinet discussed the letter written bySub Divisional Magistrate Usha Chaturvedi in which she hadalleged "interference" by at least three senior policeofficials while she was recording the statement of the victim.
They said the Cabinet endorsed Dikshit's demand to HomeMinmister SushilKumar Shinde for a high-level inquiry into thecomplaint and felt that police should have exercised restraintin dealing with the protesters at Raisina Hills and India Gateon Saturday and Sunday.
"The cabinet felt that the police used excessive forceagainst the protesters which is not at all acceptable," aMinister said.
The sources said the Government has decided to continueits "offensive" against the police "high-handedness" and keeppressing for improvement in policing as it felt the force cando a lot in improving the law and order situation.
Dikshit had shot off a letter to Home MinisterSushilkumar Shinde seeking a high-level inquiry into the SubDivisional Magistrate's complaint. The Police Commissioneryesterday had virtually hit back at Dikshit, saying policenever forced any questionnaire on the SDM.