India, Aug. 18 -- The Delhi Police has defended its personnel in plain clothes during the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" protest march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), telling the Supreme Court that they were strategically merged with the crowd due to the urgency of the situation.

In a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, deputy commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma said that police personnel in plain clothes carrying lathis were "spotters" drawn from the Special Branch, Special Cell, Crime Branch and local police.

The affidavit has been filed in response to petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged police excesses and is intended to serve as a common response in four connected petitions.

The police said tha...