Delhi Police questions AAP leader Sanjay Singh

NEW DELHI: What precautions did senior AAP leaders take when they saw farmer Gajendra Singh climbing a tree and why did they continue with the rally even after his death topped the list of questions Delhi Police asked senior party leader Sanjay Singh today.

Singh and Aam Aadmi Party volunteer Neeraj Chauhan came to Delhi Police's Crime Branch office around 12.30 PM in RK Puram, where they were questioned in connection with the death of farmer Gajendra Singh during an Aam Aadmi Party rally in Jantar Mantar here last year.

Three other senior party leaders -- Ashish Khetan, Kumar Vishwas and Punjab MP Bhagwant Mann -- will appear at the same office tomorrow for questioning, a senior official said.

All five of them were issued notice by Delhi Police under Section 160 CrPC in the past two days, asking them to join investigation over the death of farmer Gajendra Singh in April last year, the official said.

"During the questioning today, the queries revolved around whether the farmer was known to any of the party leaders, why did they organise the rally without permission from the police and what measures did they take when the crowd exceeded 5,000, which is considered as the permissible limit for rallies at Jantar Mantar," said an official privy to the investigation.

He further said, "The questions which topped the priority list were: what precautions did senior AAP leaders take when they saw Gajendra Singh climbing a tree and why did they continue with the rally even after his death."

While volunteer Neeraj Chauhan represents the organiser of the concerned rally in which the farmer died, the tent house owner who set up the stage and provided for other arrangements in the venue will also be issued a similar notice in a day or two, asking him to join the investigation, the official said.

Before his questioning today, Sanjay Singh tweeted: "I am going to Delhi Police's Crime Branch office in R K Puram to give them answers in connection with the matter related to farmer Gajendra Singh."

Singh was not available for his comments today despite several phone calls.

On April 22, Gajendra Singh, a farmer from Rajasthan, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in full public view in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at an Aam Aadmi Party rally.

The police registered a case under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 306 (abetment of suicide) against several unnamed persons at the Parliament Street police station. Later, the case was transferred to Delhi Police's Crime Branch.