Delhi Riots UAPA Case: Court Summons Special Police Commissioner as Inspector Fails to Provide Investigation Update

A Delhi Court recently summoned the Special Commissioner of the Delhi Police’s Special Cell after an inspector failed to respond to the judge about the status of the investigation and the filing of supplementary chargesheets in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat of Karkardooma Courts expressed disappointment that neither the Special Public Prosecutor nor the Investigating Officer were present before the court on May 24.

He stated, “It has also been asked from the Inspector present about the status of investigation and filing of supplementary charge-sheet, as stated and ordered earlier. However, no response has been received. In these circumstances, the court is forced to issue a summons to the Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) to appear in person on the next date.”

The Delhi police has filed total of four chargesheets in FIR 59/2020, which is being investigated by the special cell. While the first chargesheet was filed on September 16, 2020, three supplementary chargesheets were filed on November 22, 2020, February 24, 2021, and March 2, 2022, respectively.

Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan and Natasha Narwal are named as the accused.

The order was passed by the judge while hearing an application moved by the Delhi Police for the de-sealing of certain exhibits in order to make copies.

The court adjourned the case to June 9, 2023 and remanded all of the accused persons to judicial custody.

The court also issued a notice on the regular bail application moved by the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain.

“Let the prosecution file a response to the same. The court set June 9, 2023 as the deadline for filing replies and arguments on this application.