A Delhi court acquitted six accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case, slamming Delhi Police for a fabricated chargesheet and tampered records. The court held the prosecution failed to prove rioting, arson, attempted murder, theft, or conspiracy charges.
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has acquitted six individuals involved in a case related to the riots in Northeast Delhi in 2020, strongly criticizing the Delhi Police for submitting a “fabricated” chargesheet and altering records. The court concluded that the prosecution had “miserably failed” to establish any charges against them.
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh acquited Prem Prakash alias Kake, Ishu Gupta, Rajkumar alias Siwainya, Amit alias Annu, Rahul alias Golu, and Hariom Sharma from all allegations. The defendants were charged with rioting, arson, attempted murder, theft, and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to incidents near Azizia Masjid in Sudamapuri on February 25, 2020.
Judge Singh stated while ordering their acquittal,
“The prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case against the accused,”
The court identified significant inconsistencies in witness testimonies and serious procedural errors in the investigation, noting that several witnesses initially claimed they had not seen any rioters but later identified specific individuals by name in altered statements.
The court observed,
“The case of the prosecution is found to be a built-up case on the basis of the witnesses who, according to their initial statements, had not seen any of the rioters but who, as per their subsequent tampered, manipulated and fabricated statements, identified the accused,”
Additionally, the judge noted that the video evidence presented by the prosecution lacked the necessary certification under the Indian Evidence Act, making it unreliable.
Judge Singh did not hold back in condemning the behavior of the investigating officers and their superiors, stating,
“I must observe that the audacity and impunity with which the record was tampered with reflects a complete breakdown of the supervisory mechanism because the fabricated chargesheet was forwarded by the supervisory officers.”
He instructed that a copy of the order be forwarded to the Delhi Police Commissioner to take appropriate action against those accountable.
The court further commented:
“Had that mechanism worked as it is expected to work, the rights of the accused and the expectation of the society at large that criminal cases are investigated fairly would not have been bulldozed and pulverised.”
This case arose from alleged arson, looting, and vandalism during the communal riots in Northeast Delhi in February 2020, one of the most severe instances of violence in the capital in recent history. The six accused were arrested for allegedly participating in a mob that targeted properties near Azizia Masjid.