HC tells Centre to file reply on plea seeking BJP leaders' arrest

The Delhi High Court on Thursday gave the central government till April 13 to file a counter affidavit on a petition seeking arrest of three BJP leaders for inciting violence in northeast Delhi.

A division bench of Justices D.N. Patel and C. Harishankar passed the order in this regard.

The petition, filed by social activist Harsh Mander, prayed for arrest of BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra and Parvesh Verma for allegedly inciting violence.

During the course of proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought more time to file affidavit, while the counsel appearing for the petitioner sought "immediate" arrest of the three leaders.

Violence erupted between pro- and anti-CAA groups in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Gokulpuri areas. 33 people have died in the violence so far.IANS