2020 Delhi Riots: Court Acquits 6 Of Theft, Arson Charges

A Delhi court has exonerated 6 men who were charged with arson, rioting, and theft during the 2020 communal riots in northeast Delhi. The case was presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala.

The men were accused of looting, vandalizing, and setting fire to a house in Shiv Vihar on February 25, 2020. A complaint regarding the burning of a clinic was later added to this case.

In a ruling issued on Friday, the court noted that the prosecution had presented a digital video recorder as evidence. “However, no witness is there to identify any of the accused persons in the videos,” the court remarked. The court also pointed out that the investigating officer did not take any steps to verify the appearance of the accused in the video clips through scientific examination or by comparing the video with the suspects’ pictures.

“Thus, there is no evidence at all to establish that accused persons are appearing in those videos,” the court stated. It added that the call detail records neither confirmed the exact location of the accused at the time of the incident nor established their involvement in the events.

“I am of the opinion that there is no incriminating evidence against the accused persons,” the judge said, adding that “the charges levelled against the accused persons in this case are not proved at all.”

As a result, the court acquitted Hashim Ali, Abu Bakar, Mohammad Ajeej, Rashid Ali, Nazmuddin, and Mohammad Danish. The Karawal Nagar police station had initially registered the case against them.

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