A special fast-track court in Muzaffarnagar acquitted eleven individuals accused in a high-profile case stemming from the 2013 communal riots, citing a “lack of evidence” to sustain the criminal charges.
The verdict, handed down by Judge Neha Garg on May 6, was confirmed by Additional District Government Counsel Narendra Sharma.
Charges & Accusations
The eleven—identified as Subhash, Papan, Manvir, Vinod, Pramod, Narender, Ram Kishan, Ramkumar, Mohit, Vijay, and Rajender—had been charged under Section 395 (dacoity) and Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a dwelling) of the Indian Penal Code. The case originated from a FIR lodged by a local resident, Umerdeen, of Lisadh village (under Phugana police station limits).
According to his complaint, on September 8, 2013, a violent mob had descended on his home amid the height of the communal clashes. Umerdeen alleged that rioters looted cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees before setting his house ablaze. Terrified, he and his family fled Lisadh and eventually found shelter in Jhinjhana town in neighbouring Shamli district.
Investigation
A Special Investigation Team was constituted shortly after the riots to probe dozens of cases relating to murder, arson, loot, and other offences. This particular matter saw the SIT filing a chargesheet against the eleven accused.
However, during the trial, the prosecution was unable to present evidence robust enough to satisfy the court that the defendants bore criminal liability.
“The court found that the evidence was insufficient to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” ADGC Sharma explained, summing up the rationale for the acquittal.
Context
The Muzaffarnagar riots of August–September 2013 stand among the deadliest communal disturbances in recent Uttar Pradesh history. Triggered by simmering tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities, the unrest spread rapidly through Muzaffarnagar and adjacent districts in western UP. Over 60 people lost their lives, thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed, and countless families were displaced—many transported to relief camps or forced to rebuild their lives elsewhere.
In total, authorities registered 510 separate cases across five districts within the Meerut zone, naming 6,869 individuals as accused in various offences.
Prosecution Challenges
This latest verdict follows a similar outcome on April 22, 2025, when another fast-track court in the same district acquitted 16 suspects in a different riot-related case for the same reason—insufficient evidence.
Delayed Investigations: Months or years often elapse before witnesses are formally interviewed or forensic evidence collected.
Witness Reluctance: Fear of reprisals and community pressure can lead to hostile or recanted testimony.
Chaos of Violence: The upheaval and mass movement during riots make it difficult to conclusively link specific individuals to particular acts.
Observers warn that unless these systemic issues are addressed, securing convictions in large-scale communal cases will remain an uphill battle.
Notable Acquittals
Among the high-profile figures previously acquitted in riot-related cases are former legislators and political leaders, including Sangeet Som, Umesh Malik, Kapil Dev Agarwal, and Suresh Rana. Their acquittals have similarly been attributed to gaps in evidence and procedural delays.
As the legal fallout of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots continues to unfold, both victims and accused await final resolution on a host of other cases still pending in various courts.
The repeated pattern of acquittals underscores the judiciary’s burden to uphold both the rights of the accused and the pursuit of justice for riot-affected communities.
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