Punjab DGP Responds to Delhi Assembly on Atishi-Kapil Sharma Controversy, Asserts Police Accountability Lies With Courts Only

Chandigarh: The controversy over former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi’s alleged remarks on Guru Tegh Bahadur and the video shared by BJP leader Kapil Mishra has escalated between the Delhi Assembly and Punjab Police. The Delhi Assembly had issued notices questioning the FIR filed against Kapil Mishra in Jalandhar, claiming it violated legislative privileges and citing that Atishi’s video had been doctored.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav has now responded to the Assembly’s notice, clarifying the legal position. The reply, sent on January 21 via the Punjab government’s Home Department, stated that the Jalandhar police had acted strictly according to the law. Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, Dhanpreet Kaur, also submitted the response in line with the DGP’s statement.

FIR Filing Within Police Authority
The DGP emphasized that registering an FIR in cognizable offenses is the statutory duty of the police. In this case, the FIR against Kapil Mishra was filed regarding the alleged “doctored” video of Atishi and did not relate to any speech made inside the Delhi Assembly. Yadav stated that Punjab Police are accountable only to the courts, not any legislative body. He also questioned the Delhi Assembly’s claim of legislative privilege, pointing out that such privileges extend only to speeches or publications made within the House. The FIR in question arose from a misrepresentation of Atishi’s remarks outside the Assembly, allegedly altered to hurt religious sentiments and incite communal tension.

Background of the Controversy
The issue dates back to January 10, when the Delhi Assembly summoned three senior Punjab police officers, accusing them of violating Assembly privileges by filing an FIR against Delhi minister Kapil Mishra. Mishra had allegedly posted a video on his social media showing Atishi making derogatory remarks against Sikh Gurus. Atishi, however, has denied the allegations, claiming the video had been tampered with.

DGP’s Statement on FIR Against Kapil Mishra
According to DGP Yadav, the FIR was lodged following a complaint by a Jalandhar resident, who alleged that edited clips circulating online showed Atishi making offensive comments. The DGP clarified that the original video uploaded on Atishi’s official account did not contain any objectionable content, confirming that the clips were doctored to mislead viewers and provoke communal discord.