Lawyer Vibhor Anand, who had sought disqualification of 27 MLAs belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi assembly has said that he has written to the Election Commission and the President of India seeking permission to withdraw his complaint against the MLAs.
Vibhor had argued that these 27 MLAs held ‘office of profit’ and he had filed a petition seeking their disqualification in 2016. 10 of these 27 MLAs were disqualified in another case by the Election Commission last week – a decision later approved by the President of India. If the 17 remaining MLAs were disqualified as well owing to Vibhor’s petition, Delhi could have faced a constitutional crisis attracting President’s rule.
But Vibhor revealed on Twitter last night that he had written to the Election Commission and the President seeking withdrawal of the case filed by him:
Yes, I have written to @rashtrapatibhvn n EC seeking permission to withdraw my case against 27 AAP MLA’s, not because I am afraid of AAP but because of inaction Of @DelhiPolice against these goons… Many complaints but no action… @ippatel
— Vibhor Anand (@vibhor_anand) January 25, 2018
Speaking to OpIndia.com, Vibhor said that he was taking this step after being disappointed and frustrated with the Delhi police, which failed to act on his repeated complaints against a person named Rohit, who allegedly has been harassing Vibhor for a long time.
Vibhor alleges that Rohit is a history sheeter who is named as accused in many cases at Patel Nagar and Anand Parbat police stations. He further alleged that Rohit was a ‘money collection agent’ for the local AAP MLA and has been targeting him due to his petition against the 27 AAP MLAs.
Vibhor claimed that last week Rohit even physically assaulted him and beat him badly, a complaint regarding which he filed in the Patel Nagar police station, but no action was taken against the accused. Things became really serious a couple of days after this incident when Rohit allegedly tried to run his car over Vibhor.
The young advocate claims that despite his attempts to lodge a complaint and multiple calls to 100 (Police Control Room) against Rohit, not even his statement has been recorded by the police so far.
Given that Vibhor had requested to fast track the hearing in the case filed by him against the AAP MLAs, Vibhor believes that goons like Rohit could target his life again. However, more than threats by such goons, it was inaction of Delhi police, which troubled him.
After Vibhor revealed the threats against him, Prashant P Umrao, the lawyer whose petition led to the disqualification of 20 MLAs, revealed that he too had to face pressure due to his case against the AAP MLAs. Prashant too had sought police protection a few days earlier.
Vibhor withdrawn complaint due threat to his life even after his father is also Advocate. Imagine wt pressure I faced in last 3 yrs & today also without having any background. https://t.co/oq3QzOShyO
— Prashant P. Umrao (@ippatel) January 25, 2018
Update:
Lawyer Vibhor Anand has now been provided security by Delhi Police, following which he has now withdrawn his letter to President for the permission to withdraw from the case against 27 AAP MLAs.
Thank You @DelhiPolice for providing me with immediate security… The security personnel arrived at my house just now…. @ippatel @panwar_bishan …
— Vibhor Anand (@vibhor_anand) January 27, 2018
I have withdrawn my letter to the President and EC seeking permission to withdraw from the case against 27 MLA’s … Received hundreds of calls and messages in my support … truly overwhelmed… the case would go on as usual… would like to thank each and everyone (1/2)
— Vibhor Anand (@vibhor_anand) January 27, 2018
