A Delhi court has convicted former BJP MLA Neel Daman Khatri and associate Joginder Dahiya for rioting and assaulting public servants during a 2014 demolition incident in Narela. The court emphasized Khatri’s leadership role in the mob, which obstructed officials, resulting in their guilt under multiple IPC sections. Sentencing discussions are forthcoming.
New Delhi: A Delhi court has convicted former BJP MLA Neel Daman Khatri and his associate Joginder Dahiya on charges of rioting and assaulting public servants. The charges stem from a 2014 incident where a mob allegedly led by the duo pelted stones at a demolition team in Narela, obstructing their lawful duties.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne, delivering the 56-page verdict dated December 24, noted the mob was fully aware of the identities and purpose of the government officials. The court stated,
“Being the former MLA, Khatri was not only identified by all these witnesses as having either led or accompanied the crowd but was also in the nature of a leader per se… His peculiar position as a former MLA denies him the benefit of being viewed as a lay bystander or participant.”
The verdict underscores Khatri’s responsibility, emphasizing that his status as a former legislator precluded him from being treated as a mere observer.
The court found Khatri and Dahiya guilty under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Section 143: Member of an unlawful assembly.
- Section 147: Rioting.
- Section 149: Unlawful assembly.
- Section 353: Assault or criminal force to deter public servants from performing their duties.
The incident involved a mob of around 250 people obstructing a revenue team and 17 police officials during a demolition drive on November 14, 2014.
The court, however, acquitted Raj Kumar, Surender, Praveen, and Bhim Sen, citing insufficient evidence to establish their participation in the unlawful assembly or injuries caused to police officials.
Key Findings in the Verdict
- The court observed that the mob’s “common object was to unlawfully restrain the demolition team and prevent police officials from protecting them.”
- The stone-pelting, constituting force and violence, was deemed clear evidence of rioting.
- The presence of government officials and police officers at the scene left no room for doubt about their identities and lawful purpose.
“The common object of the unlawful assembly was to deter the teams of the tehsildar and the police from carrying out the demolition drive. Consequently, the ingredients of section 353 of the IPC stand established,”
the judgment stated.
The arguments on sentencing for Khatri and Dahiya will be heard in the coming days.
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