Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Former DoT Officer’s Nine-Hour Delhi Police Questioning Sparks Controversy
Ashish Joshi is a former senior government official who worked in the Department of Telecommunications.
Delhi Police questioned him for almost nine hours on Wednesday.
Police said the questioning was about an old case and that he was not arrested.
They said a special Counter Intelligence team recorded his statement and then released him.
Joshi said officers took him after his morning walk.
He said he repeatedly asked them to tell his wife where he was.
He said he could call his worried family only at 6:38 p.m.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also said Joshi’s whereabouts were unclear for several hours.
The disagreement is mainly about why Joshi was taken and how quickly his family was informed.
Delhi Police’s Special Cell questioned former Department of Telecommunications official Ashish Joshi for nearly nine hours on Wednesday.
Police sources said the Counter Intelligence unit questioned Joshi over an old case, recorded his statement and did not arrest him.
Joshi said he was taken after a morning walk and was allowed to contact his family only at 6:38 p.m.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit claimed police took Joshi from Nehru Park over a recent tweet and that his whereabouts were initially unclear.
Joshi urged Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar to ensure officers promptly inform families when people are taken for interrogation.
- Who
- Former Department of Telecommunications official Ashish Joshi was questioned by Delhi Police’s Special Cell; Sandeep Dikshit raised concerns about the episode.
- What
- Joshi was questioned for nearly nine hours, had his statement recorded and was released without arrest.
- When
- Wednesday; Joshi said he was permitted to call his family at 6:38 p.m., and posted his appeal to the police commissioner early Thursday.
- Where
- He was questioned at the Special Cell office in New Friends Colony; Dikshit said he was taken from Nehru Park during a morning walk.
- Why
- Police sources said the questioning concerned an old case, while Dikshit said officers told Joshi it concerned a recent tweet.
Joshi and Political Concerns
Police Sources’ Account
Why Joshi was questioned
Joshi and Political Concerns
Sandeep Dikshit said police personnel told Joshi they were taking him for questioning over a recent tweet.
Police Sources’ Account
Police sources said Joshi was called in connection with an old case; specific details were not available.
Initial whereabouts
Joshi and Political Concerns
Dikshit said Joshi was taken from Nehru Park during his morning walk, while lawyers and others initially could not confirm where he was.
Police Sources’ Account
Police sources said Joshi was at the Special Cell office in New Friends Colony being questioned by the Counter Intelligence unit.
Family notification
Joshi and Political Concerns
Joshi said officers refused his repeated requests to inform his wife, saying they were following instructions, and that he could call his family only at 6:38 p.m.
Police Sources’ Account
Police sources said Joshi was questioned, his statement was recorded and he was released in the evening without being arrested.
- Person questioned
- Ashish Joshi, a former controller of communications in the Department of Telecommunications
- Police unit
- Delhi Police’s Special Cell Counter Intelligence unit
- Duration
- Nearly nine hours
- Questioning location
- Special Cell office in New Friends Colony, Delhi
- Police account
- Joshi was questioned in connection with an old case, his statement was recorded and he was not arrested
- Joshi’s account
- He said he was taken after a morning walk and could contact his family only at 6:38 p.m.
- Political claim
- Sandeep Dikshit said Joshi was taken from Nehru Park over a recent tweet and his whereabouts were initially unknown
