Police seeks legal opinion on complaint against Team Anna

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police today told a court here that it has sought legal opinion on a complaint against Anna Hazare and his team, seeking their prosecution for allegedly dishonouring the national flag during their anti-corruption protests here in August.

In its status report to Metropolitan Magistrate Tyagita Singh, police said it has examined the complaint lodged against Team Anna and has sent the same to its prosecution branch for its legal opinion.

The complaint had been filed by city advocate Ravinder Kumar accusing Tema Anna of insulting the flag by using it to decorate a truck, which ferried them from Tihar Jail to their sit-in site at Ram Lila ground, allegedly in violation of statutory provisions.

Maintaining that the statutory provisions allow only constitutional authorities to hoist a flag on their official vehicles, Kumar said during anti-graft demonstration, "torn Indian flags were waived and flaunted upside down and even sat upon and used for wiping sweat" by Hazare's supporters.

Kumar had also annexed his complaint with various picture, which he said, showed Kiran Bedi, a key member of Team Anna, waving a torn tri-colour and other protesters demeaning the national flag by manhandling it and even painting it on their bodies.

In its status report, the police said it has sent Kumar's complaint to its prosecution branch for its legal opinion and the requisite action would be taken as per its directions.

The court has asked the police to submit the legal opinion on December 12.

The court had issued notice to Kamla Market SHO on Kumar's complaint, seeking registration of an FIR against Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and six others for allegedly disrespecting the Indian flag during their protests.