[Delhi riots] I will appear for State: ASG Aman Lekhi tells Delhi High Court in Faisal Farooq bail case

Following a tussle between the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Centre and Senior Standing Counsel (Criminal) Rahul Mehra for the Delhi Government yesterday, Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi today informed the Delhi High Court that he would be representing the State in a Delhi riots case. (State vs Faisal Farooq).SG Tushar Mehta seeks permission to withdraw his name from a Delhi riots case out of disgust after Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra's objection.The case pertains to the challenge to the bail granted to a Delhi riots accused, Faisal Farooq. .Farooq is the owner of a school located in Shiv Vihar and was arrested pursuant to an FIR under Sections 147/148/149/436/455/120B/34 IPC. .Chargesheet in the case was filed earlier this month. Farooq was released on bail after the trial court reportedly found that prima facie, it was not established that he was present at the spot of the violence. .When the challenge to the bail order was taken up by the Court yesterday, both Delhi Government Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta entered appearance. .While Mehta claimed that he was under instructions from the Central Government to file the present petition and also appear before the High Court, Mehra argued that Central Government had no power to file the petition against order..The Court was thereafter informed that the controversy would be resolved within a day. .When the matter came up for hearing before a Single Judge Bench of Justice Suresh Kait, Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi informed the Court that he would represent the State/Prosecution in the case. .That (controversy) has been sorted. I will appear (for State).ASG Lekhi.On being queried about the reason behind the tussle, ASG Lekhi said, . "It is avoidable. There is an order in favour of law officers.. I had the instructions so I was appearing yesterday.".It was also pointed out that Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra was not present for the hearing today. .Counsel for Farooq today informed the Court that he had been arrested by Delhi Police in another Delhi riots FIR. The matter was subsequently adjourned to allow counsel for Farooq to file his reply. .The bail order was stayed by the High Court yesterday..Farooq was represented by Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta..The matter would be heard next on July 1.