A senior IPS officer, who allegedly punished a constable by making him crawl for not saluting him at Patiala House district courts complex here, was today ordered by Delhi High Court to give his response to a contempt plea besides facing a police probe.

"We issue notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner as well as to the additional DCP concerned. We also direct the Police Commissioner to file a status report about the incident on February 15," a bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said.

The court's direction came on oral submissions of lawyer R K Saini seeking initiation of criminal contempt proceeding against Additional DCP Seju P Kurvila for "delowering" and "scandalising" the court and its proceedings.

Kurvila had allegedly punished the constable who was said to be talking on his mobile phone while on duty at a gate of the court premises.