2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits 9 accused of setting shop, house on fire

On February 23, 2020, violent clashes broke out in several areas of Northeast Delhi, including in the Gokalpuri and Kardampuri areas. Clashes were marked by arson, vandalism of property, stone pelting and burning of places of worship which claimed 53 lives and injured several.

New Delhi: Karkardooma Court on Saturday acquitted nine persons, accused of setting ablaze a shop and house during the Delhi riots.The court granted relief to the accused persons as their identity could not be established as members of the riotous mob and the allegations were not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The court also noted that there was an unexplained delay in recording the information regarding the involvement of accused persons in the alleged offences. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala of Karkardooma Court acquitted accused Mohd. Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Shahrukh, Rashid alias Raja, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Md. Faisal and Rashid alias Monu by giving them the benefit of doubt. The judge said, "I hold that sole testimony of head constable Vipin cannot be sufficient to assume the presence of accused persons in the mob, which set ablaze property of the complainant in Chaman Vihar. In such a situation, accused persons are given the benefit of the doubt."

In view of my foregoing discussions, observations and findings, I find that charges levelled against all the accused persons, in this case, are not proved beyond doubt, the judge said. "Hence, the accused are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them in this case," they said in the judgement passed on January 7, 2023. 

The court observed that the prosecution witness head constable Vipin had a thorough knowledge of the names and particulars of the accused persons, but he did not take to formally get this information recorded, before April 7, 2020.The court also observed that In his cross-examination, Vipin conceded that there had been a briefing at the police station every day, which was attended by him as well as Investigation Officers (IOs). 

Still, the knowledge about the involvement of the accused persons was not formally recorded anywhere, till April 7, 2020. "However, he stated that he had orally informed his senior officers about information with him, after about a week or 15 days of riots. No explanation has been offered for such delay in passing on such crucial information to senior officers by this witness," the court further observed.

Moreover, if actually such information was given to the senior officers, then what prevented the senior officers to get such information recorded in a formal manner? the court noted. The accused persons were chargesheeted by the police for having committed offences punishable under Section 147/148/149/188/427/436 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

The present case was registered at police station Gokalpuri on 01.03.2020, pursuant to a written complaint of February 28, 2020, filed by one Neetu Gautam.She alleged that she was residing in Chaman Park, Delhi. On the ground floor, there was a shop and on the first floor, she was residing. She had gone to Meerut and her shop and house were burnt on February 25, 2020, in the riots.