Satyapal Malik Not Detained, Says Delhi Police After Former Guv's CBI Summon

The Delhi Police on Saturday stated that former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik has not been detained.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik has been issued a notice by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged insurance scam, Malik said on Friday, 21 April.

(Photo: Twitter/@pib_panaji)

The Delhi Police on Saturday, 22 April, stated that former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik has not been arrested or detained.

"Shri Satya Pal Malik, former Governor was neither arrested nor detained by Delhi Police."

Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, Special CP/ Law & Order (Zone II), Delhi Police

Hooda stated that 24 people, who were likely to hold a "protest under the leadership of Sh. Satya Pal Malik" were detained after they refused to leave the MCD Public Park in RK Puram even as the police asked them to vacate the premises.

"He (Malik) on his own volition reached Police Station RK Puram, along with 20 supporters, at around 12:30 pm. He remained there for about 2 hours and then left PS. Around 3 pm his 24 supporters were also released from PS Jafarpur Kalan."

Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, Special CP/ Law & Order (Zone II), Delhi Police

Delhi Police issued the statement after Congress leader Alka Lamba tweeted about Malik being allegedly detained.

This comes a day after Malik was issued a notice by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged insurance scam.

"CBI has asked me to come to their Delhi office to give clarification regarding the alleged insurance scam in J&K on 27 or 28 April," Malik said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Incidentally, Malik was summoned by the CBI days after he made critical remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Central government in an interview to The Wire.

In the one-hour-long interview for The Wire hosted by senior journalist Karan Thapar, Malik made several explosive claims with regards to the Pulwama attack, PM Modi's approach towards corruption, the appointments by the President's Office and BJP leader Ram Madhav.

The BJP, meanwhile, has called Malik's claims "mere TRP-hogging tactics" and asked "why was he quite all these years."

Reacting to the summon, Congress said that, "After all, PM Modi could not help it. Satyapal Malik ji exposed him before the country. Now CBI has called Malik ji. This was bound to happen," the Congress tweeted.

Congress MP also said that, "Since the day Satyapal Malik exposed the corrupt, incompetent and power hungry nature of the Modi government, it was clear that he will be targeted by the PM’s lapdog agencies. Modi ji, these agencies are meant to catch actual criminals, not to settle your political scores."