Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
India

2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits nine accused

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Jan, 2023 11:33 AM
  • 2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits nine accused
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) A Delhi court on Monday acquitted nine persons accused of rioting, arson and other offences during the 2020 Delhi riots, granting the benefit of doubt, which includes delay by the police in recording vital information related to the accused's involvement.

They are accused of setting a shop and house on fire during the riots and police charge-sheeted them for committing offences punishable under Sections 147-149, 188, 427 and 436 of the Indian Penal Code.

Additional Sessions Judge, Karkardooma Court, Pulastya Pramachala, 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 benefit of the doubt."

The acquitted persons are Mohd. Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Shahrukh, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Azad, Md. Faisal, Rashid alias Raja, Ashraf Ali, Parvej and Rashid alias Monu.

Pramachala added that even though Vipin attended the briefing at the police station everyday with Investigation officers (IOs), he did not formally record it anywhere.

The Additional Sessions Judge said: "In his cross-examination, Vipin conceded that there had been a briefing at the police station everyday, which was attended by him as well as IOs. Still, the knowledge about the involvement of the accused persons was not formally recorded anywhere, till April 7, 2020."

The court, however, noted that Vipin had 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 noted.

The court said: "If actually such information was given to the senior officers, then why didn't senior officers get such information recorded in a formal manner."

Pramachala added: "Keeping in view such delay in disclosure of vital information being recorded, I find it desirable to apply the test of consistent testimony of more than one witness, in the present case also."

Giving relief to the accused persons by granting them benefit of doubt, Additional Sessions Judge said: "Applying that test, I hold that sole testimony of PW9 cannot be sufficient to assume the presence of accused persons herein 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."

 

MORE India ARTICLES

Mann abandoned Sangrur after becoming CM: Sukhbir Badal

Mann abandoned Sangrur after becoming CM: Sukhbir Badal
Badal said immediately after becoming the Chief Minister, Mann "had not only sublet governance of the state" to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal but had also failed to conduct a thanksgiving tour of his constituency as well as the Sangrur parliamentary seat that had elected him to the Lok Sabha twice.

Mann abandoned Sangrur after becoming CM: Sukhbir Badal

Rahul Gandhi leaves for home after 10-hr ED questioning, summoned again on Tuesday

Rahul Gandhi leaves for home after 10-hr ED questioning, summoned again on Tuesday
On Monday, Gandhi was questioned by agency officials for several hours. He was given a lunch break after three hours, and went to meet his mother, and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is undergoing treatment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Rahul Gandhi leaves for home after 10-hr ED questioning, summoned again on Tuesday

Gang of HIV-infected chain snatchers busted in K'taka

Gang of HIV-infected chain snatchers busted in K'taka
The accused are habitual offenders and targeted lonely women wearing gold chains and committed the snatching in isolated places. After coming out from the prison, they took to chain snatching as a gang. They sold gold chains and spent all the money on sex workers and other luxuries. Further investigation is on.

Gang of HIV-infected chain snatchers busted in K'taka

Fake call centre cheating US citizens busted in Goa

Fake call centre cheating US citizens busted in Goa
Police, after interrogating Fernandes, the mastermind behind setting up the fake call centre in a rented bungalow at old Goa, said that the accused persons, operating from the hacked accounts of Amazon, defrauded several US citizens to share confidential gift card details of values ranging from $500 to $1,000 USD in exchange of restoring wallet balances.

Fake call centre cheating US citizens busted in Goa

Sidhu Moosewala killing: Sharp shooter Harkamal Ranu arrested from Punjab's Bathinda

Sidhu Moosewala killing: Sharp shooter Harkamal Ranu arrested from Punjab's Bathinda
Ranu's family, a resident of Bhatinda town, claimed that they had handed him over to the police. Meanwhile, a Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued against Canada-based gangster Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar wanted in the killing of Moosewala.

Sidhu Moosewala killing: Sharp shooter Harkamal Ranu arrested from Punjab's Bathinda

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi sent to 4 days police custody

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi sent to 4 days police custody
Jasdeep Singh aka hagwanpuria is infamous for his criminal activities mostly in the Majha area of Punjab. Jaggu and his gang were the main accused in the killing of the son of a Sarpanch in Dhianpur village on Diwali night.

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi sent to 4 days police custody