2020 Delhi riots: Court frames charges against 3, slams prosecution on additional complaints

PTI, Nov 19, 2023, 11:38 AM IST

Ordering framing of charges against three accused in two 2020 rioting cases, a Delhi court has termed “fallacious” the police’s stand to prosecute a total of 19 additional complaints in both cases.

The court which framed various charges, including rioting, mischief by fire and house trespass, against the accused observed that the additional complaints were not completely investigated and the investigating officer (IO) simply relied upon “hearsay evidence” to club the complaints. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing two separate cases against Javed, Gulfam and Mustakeem who were accused of being a part of the riotous mob that was involved in incidents of vandalism, looting and arson on February 25, 2020, at different commercial establishments under Dayalpur police station limits.

Initially, 17 complaints and 22 complaints were clubbed with the main FIR in the first case and the second case respectively but while lodging the third supplementary charge sheets in both cases, police filed two applications seeking the return of the complaints, stating they would be investigated separately. The court in August allowed both applications.