MHA suspends Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashishta for leading PHQ protest

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has placed Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishta under immediate suspension following a high-profile demonstration staged by police personnel outside the Police Headquarters (PHQ) in New Delhi. As per reports, the disciplinary action was taken after Vashishta actively led and addressed a gathering of roughly one hundred police personnel who assembled outside Gate No. 1 of the headquarters.

Ministry officials took a stern view of the public agitation, deeming the officer's participation and public address a grave violation of service discipline within a uniformed force. The ministry noted that administrative grievances and inter-departmental disagreements must be addressed strictly through institutional channels rather than open street demonstrations.

Sparked by Contraceptive Officer Transfers and Lawyer Clash

The agitation at the Police Headquarters was triggered by controversial officer transfers following an October 23 altercation between police officers and lawyers at the Shahdara police station. During the incident, advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly suffered a head injury, prompting local legal associations to accuse Vashishta of threatening lawyers and demand immediate disciplinary measures. The legal fraternity subsequently launched an indefinite strike across local courts, which was called off only after authorities issued transfer orders for Vashishta and Shahdara Station House Officer (SHO) Arun Kumar.

Police personnel viewed the transfers as an unmerited concession to external pressure that severely undermined rank-and-file morale. Demonstrators gathered outside the PHQ demanding an immediate revocation of the transfer orders, immunity from administrative action for participating personnel, and a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to govern confrontations involving legal professionals at police stations.

Demands for Protocol and Heightened Tensions

Addressing the assembled personnel amid chants supporting unit solidarity, Vashishta publicly called for an urgent meeting with Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. Vashishta argued before the crowd that clear operational guidelines were essential to protect officers performing their duties, questioning how personnel could effectively maintain public safety if subjected to arbitrary administrative action during disputes.

Senior departmental officers visited the demonstration site to pacify the personnel, urging them to disperse and settle operational grievances through structured internal dialogue. Authorities confirmed that further departmental inquiries regarding the Shahdara incident and the subsequent headquarters demonstration remain ongoing.