Delhi Police Detain AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar Over Kalyanpuri Protest

Delhi Police detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar on Tuesday for allegedly creating a ruckus and attempting to disrupt law and order in east Delhi's Kalyanpuri following the murder of an on-duty sanitation worker.

The detention triggered strong objections from AAP leadership, who alleged that police personnel in plain clothes kidnapped Kumar from his residence at 4 am and transported him to an undisclosed location. The party stated that the MLA was targeted because he had been demanding Rs 1 crore in financial compensation and a government job for the family of the sanitation worker, who was killed on Sunday.

AAP representatives further alleged that police personnel damaged CCTV cameras installed at Kumar's residence and confiscated the digital video recorder (DVR). Party workers also claimed that Kumar was prevented from taking his mobile phone with him when he was taken into custody.

Reacting to the incident, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned the central government regarding the MLA's whereabouts. In a post on X, Kejriwal asked where citizens could turn for assistance if an elected representative could be picked up from his home without explanation or prior information.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that senior police officials, including the police commissioner and the deputy commissioner of police, did not disclose the location where Kumar was being held during the day.

Following the detention, Kumar's family approached the Delhi High Court by filing a habeas corpus petition. During proceedings before a bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja, senior advocate Shadan Farasat questioned the manner of the detention, telling the court that Kumar had been picked up at 4 am and remained unreachable throughout the day.