The Delhi High Court on Tuesday has directed the CBI to take over the case involving the death of 23-year-old Faizan, who was allegedly assaulted and forced to sing the national anthem during the 2020 communal riots.
Faizan was featured in a viral video, where he, along with four other Muslim men, was reportedly beaten by police officers and coerced into singing both the national anthem and “Vande Mataram.” Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani granted the transfer of the case to the CBI following a petition by Faizan’s mother, who sought an investigation by a Special Investigation Team.
Kismatun, Faizan’s mother, claimed in her 2020 petition that her son was subjected to police brutality, illegally detained, and denied necessary medical care, which led to his death on February 26, 2020, shortly after his release.
The Delhi riots, which began on February 24, 2020, were a result of escalating violence between supporters of a citizenship law and protesters. The clashes resulted in at least 53 deaths and approximately 700 injuries.
In a 2022 status report, the police mentioned that the identification of the responsible personnel was still ongoing. By March, they reported to the court that they were awaiting forensic analysis of video footage from the National Forensic Sciences University in Gujarat.
