Why Did a Delhi Court Acquit Six Individuals in the 2020 Riots Case?
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events, a Delhi court has acquitted six individuals involved in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The judgment criticized the prosecution for failing to effectively establish their identities and roles in the alleged crimes, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- The court acquitted six men due to prosecution's failure to prove identity.
- Serious discrepancies were noted in the evidence presented.
- The ruling emphasizes the importance of credible witness testimonies.
- This case reflects ongoing challenges in riot-related investigations.
- Trust in the justice system relies on the integrity of evidence and investigations.
New Delhi, July 26 (NationPress) A Delhi court has cleared six individuals of charges related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, criticizing the prosecution for their inability to establish the defendants' identities and involvement in the alleged crimes.
The individuals in question—Rajendar Jha, Tejveer Chaudhary, Rajesh Jha, Govind Singh Manral, Peetamber Jha, and Devender Kumar alias Monu Pandit—faced various allegations, including rioting, robbery, unlawful assembly, and arson, stemming from a chargesheet submitted by the Khajuri Khas police station.
Highlighting “serious discrepancies” uncovered during the prosecution's evidence, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Parveen Singh stated in a ruling issued on July 23 that the prosecution utterly failed to clarify these issues.
“The prosecution has completely failed to prove its case against any of the accused persons for any of the charges that were framed against them. All the accused are accordingly acquitted of all the charges framed against them,” ASJ Singh noted.
The court emphasized that the prosecution did not sufficiently demonstrate the accused's identities as members of the riotous mob.
It questioned how head constable Vipin Tomar (Prosecution Witness 5)—who accompanied the investigating officer (IO)—was able to identify the accused.
The integrity of the police witness was further undermined when it was disclosed that he had captured images of the accused on his phone the day he testified but subsequently deleted them.
The deleted images were later retrieved from his phone's recycle bin.
“An adverse inference must be drawn that he did this to verify their identities,” ASJ Singh remarked, adding that head constable Tomar’s testimony contradicted the site plan created during the investigation.
The court concluded that it would be “dangerous to trust the testimony of PW5” that implicated the accused as part of the mob responsible for looting, arson, and vandalism against the properties of residents such as Gulzar, Altaf, Irshad, Alka Gupta, Vikas Sharma, and Satish Chand Sharma.
The acquittal of all six defendants represents another setback for the Delhi Police, contributing to a growing list of riot-related cases where courts have criticized investigative failures.
Point of View
It is vital to uphold the principles of justice and accountability. This ruling underscores the necessity for thorough investigations and the importance of credible evidence in legal proceedings. The acquittal serves as a reminder that the justice system must prioritize accuracy and integrity above all.
NationPress
27/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the charges against the six men?
The six men were charged with various offenses including rioting, robbery, unlawful assembly, and arson.
Why were they acquitted?
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the identity of the accused and their involvement in the alleged crimes.
What did the court say about the prosecution's evidence?
The court pointed out serious discrepancies during the prosecution's evidence and stated they did not sufficiently establish the accused's identities.
What impact does this ruling have on the Delhi Police?
This acquittal adds to a growing list of riot-related cases where courts have criticized the investigative methods of the Delhi Police.
Who were the victims mentioned in the ruling?
The ruling mentioned victims such as Gulzar, Altaf, Irshad, Alka Gupta, Vikas Sharma, and Satish Chand Sharma.
