“We have already placed a detailed report in sealed cover before the NHRC,” said senior police counsel Mukta Gupta. She also filed a status report in the court today on the case.

“Everything about the investigations is in the report. We have not held back even a shred of what happened in the case,” she added.

The counsel however faced questions from the Division Bench led by Chief Justice A P Shah about an alleged delay in initiating a magisterial inquiry into the Jamia Nagar encounter, despite the NHRC guidelines to do so.

In reply, Gupta submitted that such an inquiry would only take place after the mandatory sanction from the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) who is currently examining the police documents in the matter.

“The NHRC had asked the police from to comply with the guidelines (for magisterial inquiry). Tell us what has been decided by the L-G on the issue,” asked the Bench. On this, Gupta maintained: “The LG has sought certain clarifications in the issue.”

While the NHRC had sought a response from the police on December 22, 2008, about their version on the September 19 Jamia Nagar encounter, Gupta told Newsline that a report had been sent to the Human Rights’ body as early as on November 19.