MHA Suspends ACP Manasvi Vashishtha Over November 2 Police Personnel Protest
The action follows an unusual gathering of around 100–150 Delhi Police personnel (including women officers) outside Gate No. 1 of the Police Headquarters on November 2.
NEW DELHI— The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishtha, a 2019-batch DANIPS officer, with immediate effect, viewing his leadership of protests and demonstrations outside Delhi Police Headquarters as gross indiscipline and a violation of service discipline.
The action follows an unusual gathering of around 100–150 Delhi Police personnel (including women officers) outside Gate No. 1 of the Police Headquarters on November 2. The officers protested the transfers of ACP Vashishtha (then Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Gandhi Nagar) and Shahdara Station House Officer Inspector Arun Kumar.
Those transfers were ordered after an October 23 confrontation at Shahdara police station involving lawyers, in which advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly sustained a serious head injury. Lawyers accused the officers of threats (including claims that a revolver was displayed) and launched a strike; the transfers led them to call it off, but sparked discontent among police ranks who demanded reinstatement, an SOP for handling lawyers entering police stations, limits on numbers, FIRs against alleged misconduct, and better security for personnel.
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Official Suspension Order
In an order dated November 2, 2026, from Kartavya Bhavan-3, New Delhi, the Competent Authority stated:
“WHEREAS, departmental proceedings against Sh. Manasvi Vashishtha, DANIPS (2019), Entry Grade, are contemplated;
NOW THEREFORE, the Competent Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 10 of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, hereby places Sh. Manasvi Vashishtha, DANIPS (2019) under suspension with immediate effect.”
The order further directs that his headquarters shall remain Delhi and that he shall not leave without prior permission of the Competent Authority. During suspension, he is entitled to a subsistence allowance equal to the leave salary he would have drawn on half-average pay or half pay, plus dearness allowance if admissible, subject to a certificate that he has not been employed in any business, profession or vocation for profit/remuneration/salary. The order was signed by Rakesh Kumar Singh, Under Secretary to the Government of India.
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ACP’s Statements
During the November 2 protest, Vashishtha described the gathering as an “organic call” by personnel and said he was joining it. He stated: “Our demands are clear. We need to meet CP sir. There needs to be an SOP to deal with such matters. If this happens to us, how will we fight to save the people of the city?” Personnel raised slogans including “vardi ka apmaan nahi sahenge” (we will not tolerate insult to the uniform). He also remarked that if police stations themselves are not safe, no place is safe, and spoke of standing against “hooliganism.”
A delegation later met Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. Vashishtha said afterwards: “We have placed our demands before the Commissioner. He provided us with the meeting that we had requested. Not many people got the opportunity to speak openly. Nevertheless, we have conveyed our demands to him, and they are being discussed.”
Soon after the suspension, a statement attributed to him went viral on social media: “Main aahat nahi hua hoon, mazboot ho gaya hoon” (I am not hurt; I have become stronger). The law of the land will follow and justice will prevail.
Background
Vashishtha, an IIT Kharagpur mechanical engineering graduate (2009–2013) from Jaipur, previously served in the Sashastra Seema Bal (including postings in Jammu & Kashmir and Bihar), as Personal Security Officer to then Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and in various Delhi Police roles, including the Security Unit.
The episode has highlighted rare public friction within the Delhi Police over transfers linked to police-lawyer tensions, while the departmental proceedings will determine further outcomes. The officer remains under suspension pending inquiry.
