Almost a year after a Shiv Sena MP sparked controversy by force feeding a Muslim canteen supervisor at the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, the Delhi Police has not yet registered an FIR in the case.

Mumbai: Almost a year after a Shiv Sena MP sparked controversy by force feeding a Muslim canteen supervisor at the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, the Delhi Police has not yet registered an FIR in the case. They have refused to file an FIR saying that no cognizable offence can be made out.

“No FIR has been registered in the matter so far,” said Vijay Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Delhi police, speaking to Firstpost.

Last year in July, Shiv Sena MPs were accused of forcing a Muslim catering manager at Maharashtra Sadan to break his Ramazan fast and consume a chapati. Following the incident, three complaints were filed by Imran Ali, Prabhat Kumar and Kamran Siddique with the Delhi police alleging that Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare deliberately and willfully inserted chapatti in the mouth of Arshad Zubir, canteen supervisor, due to which his ‘Roza’ was broken on the eve of Ramzan. It was also alleged that Arshad was wearing his name plate at that time and despite that knowingly Vichare broke his Roza.

A letter accessed by Firstpost reveals that the Delhi Police conducted an inquiry into the matter after receiving the complaints. They took the footage from IBN7 and examined it minutely. From the video footage examination, it came to notice of Delhi Police that the Shiv Sena MPs had an issue with quality of food served in the canteen of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.

“It is quite clear in the video footage that Vichare was holding a piece of chapati and trying to show that the quality of chapati was not good. Vichare did not say a single word about their religion. It is clear from the footage that as alleged, Arshad Zubir was not wearing his name plate. Zubir, the victim, himself did not lodge a single complaint in this regard.

Vichare had a confrontation with the staff over the quality of the food and the same is clear from the footage. It has been stated that that Vichare has already apologized publicly for the incident. Form the examination of the video footage no cognizable offence could be made out,” stated Vijay Singh, DCP, New Delhi district of Delhi police to Maharashtra Sadan officials in the letter.

However, Delhi police has not mentioned anything on whether Sena MPs inserted the chapatti in the mouth of Arshad.

Kamran Siddiqui, a social worker, had filed an application u/s 156(3) Criminal Procedure Code in the Patiala House court for the registration of FIR. “The reply was filed in the court mentioning that no cognizable office is made out. The same is pending and thus these complaints are also kept pending. No FIR has been registered in the matter so far,” Singh further stated in the letter.

Following the Delhi Police’s clean chit to the Sena MP, the BJP led Maharashtra government, in which Shiv Sena is a partner, has decided not to investigate the matter further stating that ‘necessary action’ has been taken by Delhi Police on the complaints. “The Maharashtra government was considering an investigation into the force feeding incident. Since the Delhi Police has taken the necessary action on the complaints received by them in this matter, the state government took a final decision that there is no need of taking separate action against Shiv Sena MP,” said a senior government official.

Sumit Mallick, additional chief secretary (protocol), confirmed about Maharashtra government’s decision to Firstpost.

While Vichare was unavailable for the comment despite repeated attempts, the Shiv Sena has welcomed the government's decision stating that truth has prevailed. “Whatever the Delhi Police has stated is absolutely right. There was no force feeding incident absolutely. Finally, truth prevailed,” said Arvind Sawant, Sena MP and party spokesperson.