NEW DELHI: Chief minister

, deputy CM

and 11 AAP MLAs were chargesheeted by

on Monday for allegedly assaulting chief secretary Anshu Prakash at the CM’s residence in February this year.

They have been charged with various offences, including a threat to cause death or grievous hurt under IPC Section 506 (2), which attracts a maximum punishment of seven years in prison.

The chargesheet evoked a sharp reaction from Aam Aadmi Party. A joint statement issued by five ministers in the AAP government dismissed it as “bogus” and said it was “politically motivated”. The charges were filed before additional chief metropolitan magistrate

Vishal. The next hearing is on August 25.

Chief secretary was intimidated, says prosecution

Among the charges slapped on Kejriwal and others were voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty (332); assaulting or using criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty (353) and criminal conspiracy (120B).

Several other offences under IPC were mentioned in the chargesheet, relating to abetment, unlawful assembly, obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions, voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful confinement and insult intended to provoke breach of the peace, etc. The charges come at a time when several cases against AAP lawmakers have fallen flat in court. Additional public prosecutor Atul Srivastava, appearing for Delhi Police after the initial complaint was filed in February, had said the CS was assaulted in such a way that it could have resulted in his death.

Before that, he told the court that the attack on Prakash was an “unfortunate and shameful” incident in which the most senior officer of the state was criminally intimidated and assaulted by the legislators. “The alleged assault happened at the CM’s residence where 11 MLAs had held a meeting with Prakash. We say ‘atithi devo bhava’ where guests should be honorably treated, but you treat them like this?” he submitted.

Srivastava pointed out that Prakash was forced to “consent on a certain thing” during the meeting. “He was intimidated and assaulted by two persons. There are injuries in the MLC. Injured portions — both ears — show tenderness and mild swelling. There are bruises too,” he stressed. The prosecutor also argued that both the accused had threatened to falsely implicate the chief secretary and have filed a frivolous complaint against him. He had also claimed that they had criminal antecedents.

Advocates B S Joon and Irshad, who had appeared for the lawmakers, contested the police’s claims saying it was a result of a “political fallout” and all 11 MLAs allegedly involved in the case were willing to cooperate in the investigation. “All 11 are ready to join investigation. No need for police custody remand. They are all public representatives and not hardened criminals,” the defense counsels argued.

In May this year, Delhi food and supplies minister Imran Hussain had sought the prosecution of Prakash and six other officials of the secretariat in an alleged incident of his manhandling by officials and staff.