# Delhi Police personnel and lawyer unrest

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/delhi-police-personnel-and-lawyer-unrest
> Updated: 2026-11-02T10:54:29.000Z. Sources: 23. Developments: 2.

Tensions escalated in Delhi following an October 23 clash at the Shahdara police station, during which advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly sustained a serious head injury. Lawyers have alleged that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishta threatened them with a service revolver during the confrontation, triggering an indefinite strike by lawyers across Delhi district courts.

In response to the incident, transfer orders for ACP Vashishta and Shahdara Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar were issued on October 28. This led to a protest on November 2 by approximately 150 Delhi Police officers, including women, outside the Police Headquarters. A delegation of seven officers met with Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar to present five key demands, which include the deployment of special police teams in court premises, filing FIRs against lawyers accused of misconduct, the cancellation of licenses for lawyers who behave inappropriately, and the swift filing of charge sheets related to the Shahdara incident.

During the demonstration, protesters raised slogans such as “vardi ka apmaan nahi sahenge” (we will not tolerate insult to the uniform) and demanded a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling interactions with lawyers. Following the demonstration, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended ACP Vashishta with immediate effect, citing a violation of departmental discipline and noting that administrative grievances should be addressed through institutional channels rather than public demonstrations.

The protest has also sparked public debate on social media regarding the application of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS), as critics questioned why officers were permitted to demonstrate in an area where Section 163 is active. Following the suspension of Vashishta, the Rohini Court Bar Association and other legal groups have called off their strikes and resumed judicial work.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-02: Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashistha suspended after leading personnel protest

Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashistha has been suspended after leading a protest by police personnel against the transfer of officers following a violent clash between police and lawyers in Shahdara.

19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-police-acp-suspended-following-officer-protests-and-lawyer-clashes

### 2026-11-02: Delhi Police officers protest at headquarters over official transfers

Delhi Police officers protested at their headquarters against the transfer of two officials following a clash with lawyers, sparking debate over legal equality and Section 163.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-police-officers-protest-at-headquarters-over-transfers

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Cite as: Delhi Police personnel and lawyer unrest. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/delhi-police-personnel-and-lawyer-unrest