The strained relationship between the Delhi Police and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal witnessed an interesting twist on Sunday when a constable filed a complaint against the CM for referring cops as "thullas". Constable Ajay filed a written complaint against Kejriwal in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar police station for using derogatory language against policemen.

Kejriwal, during an exclusive interview with India Today Group Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai , was made to respond to a diverse set of questions ranging from his controversial TV ad campaign to his face-off with the Centre over the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) controversy.

Responding to a question on the ACB row, Kejriwal, who has often accused the Centre of tying its hands over the law and order question, said, "These people want that even if a thulla (cop) is caught demanding money from the street vendors, we can't try him." Thulla is a slang mostly used in and around the national capital.

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi had reacted strongly to Kerjiwal's remark. "I refuse to believe the chief minister could have used such a word, but if he has, it is very unfortunate and derogatory," Bassi had said.

One of the principal points of conflict between the Kejriwal government and the Centre is over the control of the Delhi Police, which the AAP leader, since his first 49-day stint in the national capital two years ago, wants to come under the control of the city government. That demand is also part of Kejriwal's argument towards making Delhi a full state, a plank he is now pursuing aggressively with plans to hold a referendum on it in future.