A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking action against ACP Manasvi Vashistha and certain other Delhi Police personnel over alleged threats, intimidation and derogatory remarks directed at lawyers amid the ongoing police-advocates dispute.

The petition, filed by advocate Karan Bir Singh, seeks protection of the professional independence and dignity of advocates and alleges misuse of official authority by serving police personnel.

The plea names the Union of India, Delhi Police Commissioner, Special Commissioner of Police (Vigilance), ACP Manasvi Vashistha and Sub-Inspector Vishal Yadav as respondents.

Singh has alleged that videos circulating on social media depict ACP Vashistha making threatening and derogatory statements against advocates, including remarks suggesting that advocates visiting police stations in groups could face detention and criminal proceedings.

The petition also refers to an alleged video of Sub-Inspector Vishal Yadav threatening to fire an AK-47 rifle at an advocate if the latter laid hands on him.

Singh has submitted that the alleged statements, if established, raise serious concerns regarding criminal intimidation, misuse of police authority and the safety of advocates while discharging their professional duties.

Singh has alleged that the participation of serving police personnel in the demonstration warrants examination under the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966, and applicable service and conduct rules.

The plea states that ACP Manasvi Vashistha has reportedly been placed under suspension. However, it argues that the reported suspension does not address the wider allegations concerning criminal intimidation, the conduct of other police officials and the need for institutional safeguards.

The petition seeks directions to the authorities to ensure the safety, dignity and professional independence of advocates.

Removal of specifically identified social-media videos and publications containing unlawful threats, after preserving the original electronic evidence.

It also seeks an independent and time-bound inquiry into the alleged misconduct of the concerned police officials and criminal and departmental proceedings wherever warranted.

For context, reportedly, ACP Manasvi Vashishta has been placed under suspension for “violation of discipline”.

This was after the ACP led a protest by Delhi Police personnel outside the force's headquarters on yesterday following a clash with lawyers.

ACP Vashishta had joined around 100 police personnel who gathered outside Gate No. 1 of the Delhi Police headquarters on Monday morning.

They were demanding a meeting with the Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar over the recent fiasco with lawyers at the Shahdara police station.

ACP Vashishta and Arun Kumar, the Station House Officer of the Shahdara police station, were transferred following an indefinite strike called by city lawyers over the handling of an assault case involving advocate Lalit Bansal.

Various district court lawyers subsequently launched an indefinite strike, alleging that ACP Vashishta and Arun Kumar had threatened them, when they went to the police station over the handling of the assault case. They demanded action against the officers concerned.