New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS): Delhi Police were planning to book AAP MLA Surinder Singh, charged with assaulting an on-duty NDMC worker, under stringent sections on the request of a former MLA, AAP leader Ashutosh said on Friday.

"On the request of a former MLA, senior officials have instructed police to book Surinder Singh under stringent sections," the Aam Aadmi Party leader said. He, however, did not name the former MLA.

He said Surinder Singh had come in support of a vendor from whom the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials were extorting money.

Ashutosh said police were not taking action against those NDMC officials who were extorting money from the vendor.

"Even the vendor was beaten and money was being extorted from him but he has been waiting for three days for getting an FIR registered," the AAP leader said.

Surinder Singh, an MLA from Delhi Cantonment, was booked for beating on-duty NDMC employee Mukesh for clearing footpath areas illegally occupied by hawkers in Tughlaq Road area on August 4.

On the complaint of NDMC sanitary inspector R.J. Meena, police have registered an FIR against the AAP MLA.