The Ashoka Emblem on a police officer's cap and the stars on their shoulders are symbols of constitutional duty, public service, and the protection of citizens. They are not a licence to use unlawful force, nor a shield from accountability.

On 20 July, during demonstrations near Jantar Mantar, publicly available videos, photographs, and eyewitness accounts gave rise to serious allegations of excessive force by Delhi Police personnel against peaceful protesters, including women and minors.

Among the allegations that warrant an immediate, independent, and time bound investigation are the following:

 

Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba

Publicly available video appears to show Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba striking an unarmed woman standing on the sidelines. Eyewitnesses have also alleged that Mrs. Gitanjali Angmo was physically pulled, dragged, and subjected to force during the police action.

Inspector Naveen Rathi

Publicly available footage and eyewitness accounts have given rise to allegations that Inspector Naveen Rathi used a baton against a female protester in a manner warranting investigation. There are also allegations that women protesters were subjected to physical assault, inappropriate physical contact, and their clothing was torn during the police action.

Unidentified Police Personnel

Numerous police personnel whose identities are not yet publicly known are alleged to have used excessive force against protesters. Videos and eyewitness accounts appear to show officers kicking protesters on the ground, using force against women and young demonstrators, verbally abusing protesters, and participating in actions that reportedly left several people injured, including a 12 year old girl who allegedly sustained head injuries.

These allegations are too serious to be addressed by routine administrative transfers or internal departmental reviews alone.

When an ordinary citizen is accused of assaulting another person, using criminal force against a woman, or causing injuries to a minor, the criminal justice process ordinarily begins with the registration of a case and an impartial investigation. The same principle of equality before the law must apply when credible allegations are made against those entrusted with enforcing it.

Routine administrative transfers, without a transparent and independent investigation where serious allegations exist, cannot substitute for legal accountability. Failure to act on credible evidence undermines public confidence in the rule of law and risks creating the perception that public officials are held to a different legal standard than the citizens they serve.

This petition is not against the thousands of honest police officers who serve India with courage, professionalism, and integrity every day. Holding officers accountable where credible evidence warrants it protects the honour of the uniform, strengthens public confidence in policing, and reinforces the rule of law.

No office, rank, or uniform places anyone above the law.

Our Demands:

• Immediate Suspension: Suspend Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba, Inspector Naveen Rathi, and any other personnel against whom credible evidence exists, pending an independent and time-bound investigation.
• Identification of Unidentified Personnel: Direct Delhi Police to examine all available CCTV footage, body-camera recordings (where available), media footage, and citizen-recorded videos to identify every police officer alleged to have participated in the use of unlawful force and take appropriate action.
  
  
• Registration of FIR: Ensure that the available evidence is examined promptly and, where warranted, that FIRs are registered and appropriate criminal proceedings are initiated under the applicable provisions of law.
  
  
• Independent Inquiry: Conduct a transparent, time-bound inquiry under the oversight of the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) rather than relying solely on internal departmental mechanisms.

In parallel with this public petition, formal complaints are being submitted before the National Commission for Women (NCW), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and other competent authorities regarding each identifiable police officer against whom credible allegations arise from the available evidence. This petition complements those legal processes by demonstrating that citizens across India expect transparency, impartiality, and accountability.

Equality before the law is not merely a constitutional promise, it must be a constitutional practice. If credible evidence suggests that public officials have abused the powers entrusted to them, the law must be applied with the same seriousness and urgency as it would be against any ordinary citizen. Equality before the law is not a slogan, it is a constitutional promise.

 

Please sign this petition to demand accountability, equal justice, and the protection of every citizen's constitutional rights. No office, no rank, and no uniform should ever place anyone above the law.