New Delhi, June 9

A court here on Tuesday sent Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar into four-day police custody following his arrest in an alleged fake degree case.

Delhi Police had sought five-day police custody of Tomar after he was presented before the court.

Metropolitan Magistrate Navjeet Budhiraja allowed Delhi Police to quiz Tomar in custody for four days.

Police told the court that Tomar was an influential person, holding the power to fabricate documents within minutes.

Tomar was arrested here on Tuesday morning over his alleged fake law degree by Delhi Police and registered a case of cheating, forgery and conspiracy against him.

Police also told the court that the investigation in the case was at initial stage and the documents pertaining to the law degree obtained by him were "fake".

Appearing for Tomar, senior advocate and Aam Aadmi Party member H.S. Phoolka opposed the plea of police, saying Tomar's documents are not fake and police arrested him on the basis of false information.

"As per an affidavit submitted in Delhi High Court by the principal of Bishwanath Singh Institute of Legal Study College in Munger (Bihar), Tomar was a bonafide student for three years there," Phoolka told the court.

He said as per the records of a law college, he studied there for three years and completed his degree.

Phoolka also told court that police did not follow proper process before arresting him and alleged that the arrest was done under "political pressure".

However, police said they had served notice to Tomar before arresting him.

Observing that notice was served just before the arrest, the court remarked it "looks like a farce exercise" practiced by police.

Tomar's arrest legal, says Delhi Police chief

Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said on Tuesday the arrest of Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar in a fake degree case was legal.

"Tomar has been arrested within the parameters of law," he said.

At a press conference at Delhi Police headquarters, the top officer reiterated that Tomar's arrest was in accordance with law.

"There is no conspiracy behind the arrest. It is unfair to give it a political hue," the city police commissioner said.

“Based on the enquiry and the documents and reports obtained from Awadh University, Faizabad, in Uttar Pradesh and Tilka Manjhi University, Bhagalpur, in Bihar, and other enquiries from officials and ex-officials disclosed a cognizable offence," Delhi Police public relation officer Rajan Bhagat said.

"And accordingly, a case FIR No.605/15 under section 420/467/468/471 and 120B IPC at police station Hauz Khas has been registered,“ Bhagat added.

Elaborating the procedure, Joint Commissioner of Special Cell R.S. Krishnaiah said the complaint against Tomar was received on May 11 on behalf of Puneet Mittal, the Delhi Bar Council secretary, regarding Tomar's fake degree.

He said two police teams were sent to Awadh University in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Tilka Manjhi University in Bhagalpur, Bihar, to check the veracity of the documents.

"After verification process, both the degrees of Tomar were found forged. The roll number mentioned in the provisional certificate of Ll.B. degree was found to be allotted to another student, Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary, from a different stream issued in 1999," he added.

"The facsimile signature of Rajender Prasad Singh as Controller of Examination, on the marks sheet of Tomar's Ll.B. (Part III) and Provisional Degree were found to be forged," Krishnaiah said.

"During the course of investigation, Jitender Singh Tomar was asked to join investigation and after his examination as per the established procedure, he was formally arrested," Krishnaiah said.

Tomar was arrested here at 1.30 p.m. over his alleged fake law degree. In the evening, he was sent to four-day police custody for interrogation.